Threads of Nature

Katerina Shukshina's Wearable Odes to Nature

Welcome to the imaginary world of Katerina Shukshina, where fashion and nature team up for something extraordinary. We first discovered Katerina’s art with a scroll through Instagram, where her creations - decked out with fruits, veggies, and flowers - struck a chord that made us want to sit down with her to find out what went behind creating such stunning pieces. 

Drawing inspiration from her laid-back village upbringing, Katerina turns fabric into a canvas of her memories. Her pieces aren’t just garments, they are little nods to the simple joys of her childhood and a heartfelt homage to nature, which has always been her muse. As she puts it “ Nature is an amazing artist itself, it inspired me greatly”.

Can you share with us a little bit about your background and how your journey as an artist began? 

My journey as an artist began to take shape in childhood. I loved drawing, composing poems, and coming up with interesting things. I dreamed of attending art school, but living in a small village limited that opportunity. Despite lacking formal art education, my childlike interest and imagination fueled my creativity. I studied history at the university and worked as a teacher for seven years. Quitting my job marked a new chapter, allowing me to explore and implement my creative ideas.

Your work is quite unique, incorporating elements of nature into fashion. What inspires you creatively, and how do you come up with the ideas for your designs?

Nature is my main source of inspiration. Growing up in a small village surrounded by beautiful forests and fields, I was in constant contact with nature. Our family outings involved going to the forest for mushrooms and berries, swimming in the river, and having picnics. My childhood games were mostly about creating new things with natural elements, like making whistles from acacia pods or playing with marsh algae and thorns. Tending our garden, harvesting crops, and savoring homemade vegetables and fruits significantly shaped my worldview and creative perception. My homeland is undeniably my source of strength and creative inspiration. Ideas often come unexpectedly, like playing an association game. Touching a soft reed might evoke the image of a fur coat, or gathering vegetables for soup may lead to the discovery of cabbage leaves resembling the wide brim of a hat.

What is your relationship with fashion? Why did you choose to recreate garments and accessories with “natural elements” in this way?

I don't consider myself an expert in fashion (though I've loved dressing up in my mother's beautiful things since childhood:)). I began paying attention to trends and events in the fashion world only in the last few years. When I started creating things from natural materials I got curious about it.. Near my house, there's a small pond occasionally covered with algae, resembling the texture of wool yarn. This sparked the idea of knitting something from marsh yarn. I enjoy integrating natural elements into everyday life, adding new colors to familiar items.

Any specific trends that you are seeing in 2024 that you can’t wait to recreate? 

Honestly, I haven't thought about it yet. Ideas usually come spontaneously. Perhaps I haven't encountered any trends in 2024 that have caught my attention and made me say, "Wow, I'd like to recreate that!"

As mentioned above, nature, specially fruits, veggies and florals, take center stage in your creations. How does your relationship with nature influence your process? 

My relationship with nature guides the creative process. I enjoy working with the texture, shape, and color of natural materials. Everything in nature appears perfect to me. Observing the wings of a butterfly reveals a single symmetrical pattern, not random lines. Nature, itself an amazing artist, inspires me greatly. Witnessing moss create beautiful patterns on a stone sparks ideas; I think such prints would look amazing in clothing.

As an artist, what have been some of the most memorable milestones in your career? Any particular project or creations that are extra special to you? 

One of the most memorable works was the Chanel zucchini ballet flats. They were the first to circulate on social networks and public platforms, leading to interviews by fashion publications. Experiencing this recognition brought about an emotional uplift and fueled inspiration for further creativity.

Can you share with us some of the challenges you’ve faced in your journey as an artist and the lessons you’ve learned? 

If you have an idea, start doing it immediately; do not postpone it for later – that's the lesson I learned for myself. I often planned to create something from natural materials but hesitated to start, and  materials were  destroyed by someone or something. I once spotted a vegetable in the garden for a creative project, only to find it eaten by someone from the household later. Also, unexpected weather conditions such as heavy rain, frost, or hail can alter the appearance of the plant I intended to work with. Sometimes, the end result may not match the initial vision in my head. This is normal, as plant material can manifest itself in different ways during the creative process, but the most important thing is not to get upset and to continue experimenting. 

Do you have any favorite techniques or materials that you prefer to use? 

I think my favorite material is cabbage. Cabbage has an amazing variety that fascinates me with their shape, texture, and color. I don't have a preferred technique for creating products; I often use threads, glue, tape, and other improvised materials.

Walk us through your creative process. How do you approach a new project from the initial concept to the finished piece? Are there any routines or rituals that help you with the creative flow? 

In nature, everything happens quickly, each plant has its own season and blooming period. The wilting process also happens quickly. Which is why I'm used to working at a fast pace. As soon as an idea is born in my head, I try to do it immediately. I usually don't resort to sketches but execute everything in the moment, following my intuition. I try to complete the creative process in a single day (although, if the material is durable, it may extend over several days).

How it happens: I sew a cabbage jacket in a few hours, capture photos, disassemble the leaves, and offer them to the chickens before they wilt.  After the creative process, flowers go to the herbarium, and vegetables are eaten by us or pets. As for rituals, I like listening to music or podcasts during the creative process. And if the weather is good, then I like to create products outside, sitting in a green clearing, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the singing of birds.

What can we expect from you in the future? 

This is a good question. Until now, I have thought of this as a hobby or a game. But I now realize that it's much more than that. I want to create things and decorative elements that come to life not only in photos but also in real life.I also hope that in the future, I will have creative projects and collaborations with other artists and creative people. Perhaps I have answered this question in general terms. But I think I need time so that I can figure out for myself which direction I want to move in. What if I go back to teaching at school again? We'll see :)

Finally, is there a message that you’d like to share with We The Cool? 

Listen to yourself!. It is important to do what you love and what brings you great pleasure. It is important to not be afraid of taking the first step and to treat failures as a useful experience. It is important to do all your actions in relation to people and the world around you out of love. Love will save the world.