Finalist

Sabina centres around the imbibing of psychedelic mushrooms and imagines a near future where taking a psilocybin trip is a perfectly normal type of therapy.

The shape of the garment is inspired by the Mexican huipil. In the article ‘Seeking the Magic Mushroom’ written by an American ‘Mycotourist’, for Life Magazine in 1955, the author describes a huipil worn by Mazatec healer Maria Sabina, the wise woman that conducted their first magic mushroom ritual. I have come to view Sabina as the ‘mystical mother of mycelium’.

In the future, we no longer have therapists, or take anti-depressants – the research undertaken into psilocybin because Sabina shared her knowledge means a monthly trip is all you need.

This garment celebrates Sabina, its pattern comes from mycelium, the network that connects all fungi together, and now connects us to her. The green fabric becomes the moss that the fruiting bodies of the collar and trim grow upon. It is made of digitally printed velour, hand embroidered with layers of knots and glass beads in various shapes and colours. The underskirt is iridescent organza, the collar and trim around the skirt are made of gold organza and chiffon, embellished with bugle beads and goldwork.