Tenant of Culture Explores Fashion's Instability Through Sculptural Garments

Tenant of Culture, the artistic persona of Hendrickje Schimmel, crafts sculptural garments utilizing upcycled materials to critique the swift changes in fashion. Since relocating to London in 2016, she has pursued separate studies in fashion and art. Schimmel employs industrial techniques to deconstruct garments while investigating the ethical dilemmas and supply chains of fast fashion. She also hosts public workshops focused on upcycling, fostering collaborative creativity. Drawing inspiration from Michel de Certeau, she prioritizes visual communication over theoretical frameworks. Her work juxtaposes the fleeting nature of fashion with art's enduring essence, producing everything from functional attire to fabric tapestries that engage with themes of class appropriation and rural nostalgia, referencing Meredith Martin's 'Dairy Queens.' In her studio, discarded clothing is transformed, with only a few samples evolving into completed works, highlighting the intersection of art and fashion amidst rampant overproduction.