For this project, I sought inspiration from modern sculptors during the Modernist movement, and I found Margel Hinder particularly captivating. Born in Buffalo, New York, Hinder was 23 when she met Henry Francis. During the Great Depression, she moved to New Mexico, where the landscape and the women there profoundly inspired her work. She initially focused on drawing but created her first sculpture while traveling to Australia by boat. Hinder revolutionized the sculpture scene in Australia and paved the way for women artists.

Two specific works of hers significantly influenced my garment design. First, I drew inspiration from her abstract wood carving from 1952. I used the shape of one of her carvings as the central feature of the dress, exaggerating its form to create a bold and striking silhouette. Additionally, the metalwork in Hinder’s piece “Revolving Constitution” inspired the pattern of the dress. I adapted the intricate lines from this work to develop a pattern featuring multiple curves, which posed a challenge in terms of construction.