To coalesce the pursuit of snowboarding and the life of a Romani traveler is to appreciate the joy of wandering through the outdoors.  The smell of trees in the fresh air, the sound of wind in the forest and the spectacular beauty of fresh snow are all shared experiences of lovers of open space.  Snowboarders and Bohemians alike share an independent spirit for how and where to live their life, including how they dress.

   As in many outdoor sports, the clothing for snowboarding must allow for active movement, warmth, water-resistance, and durability.  Like the garments, the styles of snowboards, bindings, boots, and goggles reflect modern, cutting-edge designs and materials. But no matter which accessories are chosen, the snowboarder’s pursuit is really about one of nature’s wonders, the snow.  Experiencing snow is a unique sensual experience: quiet, cold, soft, crunch, matte, shiny, white, grey, silver, blue, joy and misery. Thinking about snow is inspiring to translate into textiles and textures.

   For me, this project represents how clothing serves multiple purposes at the same time.  As people have become more aware of the connection between physical activity and health, more garments have been created for the comfort to pursue physical activity.   “Leisurewear” is now worn for actual physical sports and more, into the daily routine of other activities such as work, errands, and social events. This design has to allow for modern practical needs such as a cellphone.  Leisurewear has also become another form of self-expression by its style, its color, its pattern, and its textures.