Hayley Griffin

design

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designer's statement

Growing up the daughter of a Maine lobsterman, I gained an early appreciation for the majesty of the sea. I am inspired by the unique patterns and textures found in the natural world. Recently, my observation of rockweed served as the basis for a clothing line made of balloons, which mimicked the seaweed’s feel and shape.

Design not only serves as the foundation for all of my work as an artist, but it is also a crucial tool for community activism. Design has the power to spread knowledge and affect large groups of people. In the spring of 2008, I created a fashion line made from biodegradable water balloons for the MICA Fashion Show. This project continued a year’s worth of design work that focused on global sustainability and environmental concerns.

Like me, Anne Schatz, my model, values the untouched natural world as an avid hiker and nature appreciator. Anne has experienced some of the most breathtaking natural wonders of the United States. Using the Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons, and Yosemite Park as inspiration, I have created an evening dress that embodies the scenery and hues of nature in the form of fashion design. Anne's dress echoes the tones of sunrise and sunset, the shades of water and of the earth. Western rock formations inspired the texture of the fabric, which in turn lent depth to the garment. This dress was made for a woman with a great sense of adventure and a love of the outdoors.