Naomi Lewin

In my years collecting vintage clothing, I’ve learned to look beyond what’s visible and to look closer at the stories these garments hold. Our clothing is infused with our movements, habits, and the rhythm of the maker’s stitches, holding memories in an entirely unique way. For me, collecting meant connecting with other people’s stories and preserving individual histories that might otherwise be forgotten. Once separated from their original wearer, these garments become a diary, and a conduit between lives, connecting the dots of a larger cultural history. 

There is something haunting about putting on someone else’s clothes. With this collection, I wanted to explore the ways in which storied clothing can involuntarily bring up emotions and memories. Using sensory elements like the sound of chiming keys, the scent of fresh tea, and the touch of a soft blanket, these garments will never truly leave you alone. More than just clothes to put on, they are infused with the collective stories I hold on to in my archive, meant to be shared beyond one singular closet, meant to be reinterpreted by each wearer.