The collection Expedition ’26 explores childhood imagination through the fictional narrative of a young girl in the 1920s who dreams of becoming a polar explorer during the height of the Polar Age of Exploration. Rooted in themes of innocence, escapism, and adventure, the collection reimagines the harsh visual language of expedition dressing through the emotional lens of childhood fantasy. Drawing from archival photographs of late 1910s and early 1920s polar expeditions, alongside 1920s womenswear catalogues and childrens clothing from the same period, the collection examines how children construct identity through play and imagination. Protective garments associated with survival and endurance are softened and transformed into whimsical silhouettes that balance vulnerability with resilience, creating a dreamlike world shaped by curiosity and wonder.

The garments combine utilitarian expedition references with details inspired by vintage childrenswear and undergarments from the early twentieth century. Workwear jackets worn during polar expeditions are reinterpreted through oversized proportions and softened construction, while references to long johns and henley menswear undergarments appear through waffle knit layers and fitted base garments. Anoraks, oversized fur mittens, childrens bloomers, gathered skirts, capes with tie closures, rounded childrens coats, and exaggerated fur collars are layered together to blur the line between practicality and fantasy. The silhouettes intentionally feel oversized and playful, evoking the sensation of a child dressing up in imagined uniforms and protective clothing. Exaggerated fur elements and oversized twill buttons further amplify the collection’s sense of theatricality and childlike wonder.

The emotional tone of the collection is communicated through color, materiality, and hand-drawn surface design. Dreamy blues, pale pinks, military khakis, and rich purples merge traditionally masculine expedition archetypes with references to girls’ clothing found in 1920s catalogues. Hand-drawn tartan prints rendered in a rough, childlike style emphasize spontaneity, imperfection, and imagination, reflecting the visual language of children’s drawings and homemade play costumes. Twill cotton fabrics are overdyed, washed, and distressed to mimic the wear and tear of explorers’ garments, while waffle knits directly reference thermal underlayers and henley tops worn during expeditions. Nylon introduces moments of modernity and subtle shine, contrasting against matte, worn textures. Together, the exaggerated proportions, tactile fabrics, and playful use of color create a collection centered on whimsy, imagination, and the emotional freedom of childhood play.