Notes On Organic Inspiration
When it comes to style, aesthetics, and creativity we tend to draw from our favorite movies, literature, or even posts on Instagram. But I once read that the key to cultivating creativity is identifying what inspires you in the real world, outside of your chosen medium. Imagine this with clothing, for instance. While Pinterest is great for outfit inspiration, this principle would argue that personal style comes from broader influences—things completely unrelated to fashion that genuinely excite you. Perhaps it’s morrocon rugs, tree roots, or Florence Stettenhiemer paintings. While these things may not seem immediately related to clothing, they help form a more well-rounded sense of self. We may use our newfound preferences to inform our choices of color, fabric, texture, and design. This approach may even spill over into home decor or other areas of life, ensuring everything feels cohesive and authentically "us." With this personal sense of style, we can be sure that we have vision across multiple mediums and parallels of life.
I believe one of the most powerful and timeless areas to draw inspiration from, is nature. Nature is complicated, intricate, and mysterious, and it never goes out of style. Think of Antoni Gaudi and his architecture inspired by dried-out snake skeletons and the patterns inside honeycombs. Or Iris van Herpen’s couture, influenced by the “wood wide web” —the underground network that connects plants, trees, and all living things.
Lastly, take bees for example. Known for their complex social structure and specialized roles for each member of the hive, Bees are incredible pollinators that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. The life of a bee revolves around the hive, where they communicate through intricate dances and exchange important information about food sources. Bees also possess a remarkable internal compass that allows them to locate nectar-laden flowers miles away from their hive, remember landmarks, and create mental maps of their surroundings. This navigation system is aided by the bees' sensitivity to ultraviolet light, allowing them to see patterns invisible to humans. When written down their capabilities sound futuristic and other-worldly when in reality they couldn’t be more common. No wonder The Bee Movie did so well…
In a time when many people are disconnected from nature and we often see other life forms as somehow less conscious, pesky, or irrelevant, it is very easy to overlook their wonder. However, the worst that can happen from expanding your understanding of the world is that you become a more informed person with greater appreciation for all that exists on earth.
Resources
Top 10 Facts About Bees: https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/bees