Collection 02: Longing & Belonging. 2022.

The first NESSA commission from Full Circle Dance Company, this was a collection of dance garments made from upcycled denim that shed light on the issue of homelessness in Baltimore City. Jasmin worked closely with choreographer and FCD director, Donna Jacobs, to bring her dance piece, entitled “Home-less,” to life for the annual showcase at Baltimore Theater Project in November, 2022.

The intention behind the collection was as follows: Denim is a universal fiber; it’s touched nearly every person on the planet and it holds a heavy history. Originally dyed with natural indigo, a cash crop in the 1700s, it bears the hidden narratives of forced labor. At the same time, the plant has global roots, and has passed through the hands of artisans ranging from Japan, West Africa, and the Caribbean. Now we see denim in and outside of our homes. We’ve seen it tattered, torn, upcycled, and brand-new. However, it was distinctly important that this collection did not reflect any tropes of the “homeless-core” aesthetic in the fashion world right now, which is characterized by battered, dirty clothing and flaunted by individuals typically far out of touch with actual homelessness. 

Instead, the team reflected on the countless stories that are woven into every piece of denim as they pass from person to person and home to home. It's important that we see ourselves in every person that passes us by, and perhaps denim is a way we can be reminded of that connection.