I loved the expression and the notion behind them, but at the same time wanted to respect the original creation so I opted to explore materials I considered to be vastly different and gave a new dimension to the art. Oh boy did this take me on a different adventure than I’d planned.
I hit so many issues with obtaining materials that were environmentally friendly, or not sold through half a dozen parent companies sourcing from China. It took a long while to find a stable transparent supply chain for the materials I’d decided to use.
And that’s how it all started. Since then, I’ve continued exploring the issues faced in modern-day making that are important to me, like ethical and environmental materials, responsible purchasing and supply chain transparency. It’s definitely shaped my perception of ethical consumerism for the better I feel, having developed an understanding of the long term impact of tiny, seemingly inconsequential decisions. Alongside developing new skills and techniques that allow me to delve into different handmade mediums and appreciate the materials I work with. I’m also lucky to have such an available breadth of histories and cultures to learn from and be inspired by on my journey.