in the midst of play

Thesis collection, Parsons BFA 2025

Photographed by Yomna Mohamed

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This project is a testament to what can emerge when fashion is approached with childlike resourcefulness and a spirit of play.

The process began with a longing to reignite the same wonder, curiosity, and playfulness that had me playing dress up and doing arts and crafts for hours on end. As children, we found endless potential in the everyday. Scraps became treasures, and the mundane clothes and materials that lived in our closets became tools for the exploration of identity and making. 

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Searching for this feeling, I explored elementary methods of creating, reconnecting with painting, drawing, sculpting, beading, and fiber arts. I looked through drawings, collages, and stories I made as a child, and searched through photo albums filled with images of senseless styling and dress-up. 

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This fueled the design process, and sustainability became intrinsic to the making. Many materials used in this collection were sourced locally from material donation organizations, Facebook Marketplace listings, or fabrics that had been shoved in the back of my craft closet. Natural fibers and their versatility in texture and shine drove each materiality exploration, reinvigorating my tactile sensibility and the textures of my adolescence. Whether it be from trying on my mom’s silk work blouses and my grandfather’s cotton twill coat, to the toys and dance costumes that decorated my friends' bedrooms, every textile in this collection is rooted in the tactile experiences of my childhood. 

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The final collection is meant to tell a story of resourcefulness, renewal, and play, reframing fashion as a space for care, creativity, and personal connection. It was made by embracing intuitive making, imagination, and joy, and exists as a physical manifestation of my friendships and girlhood. It shows a year spent crafting and creating, where making is playful, meaningful, and rooted in both memory and possibility.

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This collection is dedicated to all the friends I grew up with and the magic that happened in the midst of play.

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