Jaismeen Gill Singh - Hochschule Macromedia Berlin-Hamburg

The Land of Five Waters – Hochschule Macromedia Berlin-Hamburg

This collection is about my Punjabi heritage. Through it I tell the story of Punjab, a region which has faced much adversity at the hands of colonialism. In 1947, when the British left the region, Partition was put in place which split Punjab down the middle. People that once to lived side-by-side as neighbours, as friends, as a community, were ordered to separate on the basis of religion. People lost their homes, their communities, their livelihoods, and many lost their lives. Even those who stayed had their homes irrevocably changed.

The name Punjab is derived from the Farsi words “Punj” meaning “5” and “ab” meaning “waters”, which is reference to the 5 rivers that flow through Punjab: Ravi, Jhelum, Beas, Sutlej and Chenab. This collection explores Punjab, not as a region divided, but as a whole, with each piece being inspired by one of the five rivers who know no borders. I did so by researching the history, folklore, and poems that surround these bodies of water. Inspired by my Punjabi and Indian culture and employing Indian motifs and fabrics, all sourced from the region, I tell its story, the story of a people united.

My name is Jaismeen, I am a Berlin-based fashion student at Macromedia. I have always gravitated towards fashion as a means of exploring and expressing my inner-most self. It is the medium through which my ideas feel the most me and my stories are told most authentically. It is the way I express my third-culture upbringing, being ethnically Punjabi but growing up in Hong Kong, which has played a significant role in shaping my creative perspective. In my work, I strive to create meaningful and research-driven designs while maintaining a strong focus on craftsmanship and innovation.

Credits
Fitting Pictures:
Yuylia Cyrychenko (Look 1&2)
Olivia Maria (Look 3&4)