BETWEEN THE SHADOWS AND DARKNESS
Mackenzie Alberts, BFA Fashion Design, creates a sense of tension throughout her collection between concealment and exposure. The silhouettes reveal Persephone’s story and the metamorphosis that unfolds, connecting her with the modern woman.
Persephone, the goddess of Spring who lived in her innocence and warmth, becomes hardened after being taken to the underworld. She loses herself in the shadows, where she finds the strength of duality, blossoming into a vigorous woman. A story of a woman whose fate has echoed through the centuries.
This influence is woven throughout Mackenzie’s designs, as her connection to this story traces back to her time studying opera at a music school. She was first introduced to fashion through knitting with her grandmother as a child. Because of her background in knitting, it became an essential part of her work, as this technique is historically rooted in fashion. However, the emotional weight behind her creations made certain design choices difficult, as she wanted to ensure the story was delivered with clarity and intention.
The garments were made entirely with natural fibers, as Mackenzie wanted the complexity of her fabrics and silhouettes to reflect the complexity of womanhood. Her first pieces mimic childlike silhouettes, which evoke Persephone’s innocence before she’s taken to the underworld. What follows are pieces that reflect the struggle between identity and environment, introducing stronger colors, which turned out to be the hardest part of the process. “The evolution of the collection was a difficult process. I knew the beginning and the end, but the process of becoming was not easy.” Says designer Mackenzie Alberts. The collection concludes with light, flowing pieces that depict an ethereal woman who has found her strength and exudes divinity.
It was important for Alberts to demonstrate the journey of growing into oneself through her craft, so others could empathize and feel understood.
Words by Italie Pacheco, BFA Fashion Communication and Styling
Runway photography by Ed Jay.
