Mode Design (B.A.)

“UP & DOWN. COCOONING 2020 – THE YEAR OF EMOTIONS & PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDERS”

The Bachelor Thesis shows the return of the cocooning trend caused by the outbreak of the pandemic and how this can influence people’s mental health.

Profil Marina Stefan

UP & DOWN. COCOONING 2020. is a world full of mixed emotions in which one tries to escape the chaos. Inspired by the outbreak of this corona pandemic, this collection shows that the cocooning trend has come back and how it can affect people’s mental health.

Cocooning represents the protection of someone or something from pain or an unpleasant situation. In order to bloom people must return into their own cocoon. Faith Popcorn identified the cocooning trend in the late 80’s and at that time it was described as the retreat in one’s home. The difference between cocooning then and cocooning now is that, today’s situation was forced upon the people. The pandemic and the high numbers of COVID-19 infected have brought several lockdowns worldwide. One counts innumerable isolations, contact restrictions and curfews.

How are humans supposed to endure a year ruled by loneliness?

This collection is based on the personal experience of the designer through the summer semester 2020 when she was working on her bachelor collection. The isolation and ban of contact caused unproductivity, demotivation, mood swings and depression in her life. Her desire was only to hide under a blanket until the chaos outside ends. According to the COPSY study people’s metal health and quality of life during the pandemic aggravated. Therefore, the goal of UP&DOWN is to design a cocoon for everyone, in which one feels comfortable, hidden, safe and not lonely.

Hi. I’m a Romanian woman, who graduated from the AMD Düsseldorf Fashion Design. Talking about me is not one of my strengths but I hope this quote helps you to get to know me better:

“I put a lot of pressure on myself. I think something’s not good enough, and I won’t stop until I feel like I’ve made it. I’m never satisfied.”- J.Cole. No matter what I’m working on, I want the result to be perfect. I’m a very competitive person towards others but also towards myself and I never give up that easy.

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