A recent chat with Hadley Clark reveals her unique, intentional side.
In 2012, fairly new to KC, my first introduction to Hadley was in her Crossroads shop. It was a refreshing meeting of understanding and inspiration. She was back from studying fashion in Paris, and I had had the good fortune of attending over 30 seasons of fashion shows there, experiencing firsthand what the “conceptual” side of European (and Japanese) design was all about.
What led you to apply to Parsons Paris?
After a cancer diagnosis and a year of treatment alongside an ending of an engagement, I was ready to invest in myself. I wanted to study fashion in Paris in an English-speaking program, and Parsons Paris was the only option!
Who were your key influences during your studies at Parsons?
I was immersed in European storytelling through garments and was led by the head of the fashion department, Sibylle Klose. She had worked with Thierry Mugler as a designer in the ’90s and was on the inside of the fashion world that I was so seduced by at the time. She understood me as an artist making garments and helped me build the confidence I needed for that world.
I was already deeply influenced by the conceptual work of Hussien Chalayan, especially his AW’00 collection “After Words;” also Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, and trend forecaster and educator Li Edelkoort. Their work became gateways to the possibilities of garment construction.
You’ve exhibited in solo and group shows, you’ve traveled as an artist-in-residence, and you’re now teaching. I’ve always known you as a conceptual clothing maker where craft is paramount, and I see a clear evolution that feels like coming home to Mother Earth: more edgy early on, and more grounded now, yet always artisanal, and sustainable before that was a “thing” in fashion. Can you speak to this??
Yes, the work has been evolving as my own human experience is expanding, which has coincided with my relationship to plants and the resilient teachings and gifts of the earth.
The output of my hands is directly connected to my heart. So, while it appears I am creating garments that can be branded sustainable, it’s more than that . . . the output is currently fiber based, specifically garments and floor pieces along with educational components like basic sewing skills . . . also conscience-raising exercises of empathy through the act of sewing.
Reverence, spirit, refinement, and acknowledgement are all part of the process. So while it doesn’t sound “conceptual,” there is meaning in all the choices I make when creating work, which will always be tied to my training as a designer in Paris.