Maker Profiles: Leah Doeland
As part of Leah Doeland’s Destined for Landfill - Covid Couture now on in William Street Window Gallery, ADC’s Communications Producer Laura Wesolowski asked Leah three quick-fire questions to find out what inspires her as a designer maker.
What do you make?
I am a multidisciplinary artist, who explores many mediums. Currently I am working on a collection of hand-crafted jackets made using items destined for landfill. The jackets are all created using the same pattern but are fashioned together with differing “textiles”. I have enjoyed the exploration of sewing techniques such as patchwork, embroidery, sashiko, crochet, hand sewing and machine sewing to add interest and dimension to the collection.
Leah Doeland, In Studio, 2024. Photo: COTA.
Why do you make what you make?
During the recent lockdowns associated with the Worldwide Covid pandemic I was unable to source my ‘normal’ art practice supplies and out of my innate need to create, the "Covid Couture" art jacket series was born. Initially my children’s colourful empty Smith’s Chips packets caught my attention, I realised they could be joined together with packing tape creating a textile (of sorts). I drafted a pattern off a piece of clothing in my own wardrobe, my first attempt was far from perfect but the concept opened a floodgate of inspiration that had me viewing all of our household packaging and our waist in general as potential crafting material. The jackets as a collection are vibrant and thought provoking. It is my desire to firstly capture the audience’s attention with the colour and textures of each piece, then to spark their curiosity as they lean in to discover what each of the jackets have been created out of. Finally, I hope that the viewer would take a moment to ponder ways in which they could make changes towards a more sustainable and meaningful lifestyle.
Leah Doeland, Destined for Landfill, 2024. Photo: Peter Collie.
What inspires you?
From the moment I awake until I close my eyes of an evening inspiration is all around me. I love to spend time immersed in nature, equally, I enjoy being cocooned within the walls of my home. I do love the quiet serenity of time spent alone, but am also filled when spending time with my beautiful family and close friends. There are times when a fragrance sparks inspiration, other times it’s a colour, a memory of a place or even an interesting object… Most of all, I believe that I am on this earth for a purpose, I was born for such a time as this, to create and shine my light for all to see.