Bessel Bloem
Keywords: Transformation, Identity, Journey
Internship: Stine Goya
With "Flor de la Peregrina", I explore the intersection of identity, transformation, and self-expression through fashion. Rooted in personal experience and reflective research, the collection explores how function and emotion, practicality and memory can merge in unexpected ways.
In September 2024, I walked 780 kilometers across northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago — a spontaneous decision that became a deeply transformative journey. Freed from my daily routines and visual identity, I began to question how we define ourselves when external markers like clothing are removed. Who are we when we let go of how we present ourselves — and what do we uncover beneath?
This collection became a way for me to translate my inner journey into a visual language. Color and print play a central role in my storytelling. I translated subtle visual details from the walk — textures, flowers, leaves, and landscapes — into modern, abstracted prints using digital techniques. I applied methods such as laser cutting, silkscreen, and digital printing to give form to these impressions. The evolving color palette — shifting from dark tones to greens, reflects my personal transformation throughout the journey.
The materials and construction reflect a balance between practicality and emotion. Elastic cords, technical fabrics like nylon are combined with fluid, voluminous shapes inspired by the silhouette of a backpack, movement, and memory. While not designed for hiking, the collection draws from outdoor functionality and translates it into soft, expressive silhouettes. Through this contrast, I express the tension between structure and vulnerability.
Flor de la Peregrina is about inner transformation. It’s about letting go, slowing down, and rediscovering the self.
