Unique Pieces, United Voices

Being able to freely express our beliefs and being able to demonstrate is the most valuable good that we have in the EU and it is worth fighting for.

In collaboration with Berlin-based social fashion brand souvenir official, and six EU-based artists we created a capsule to raise awareness for the European election 2024.

Product Creation Process

Before sending the pieces to the artists, prep work was necessary. Fashion designers Marika Hellmund from Germany and Filip Bejek from France collaborated to reimagine the raw deadstock pieces we received from Souvenir Official.

These included six hoodies and a few denim pants left over from a previous collaboration, which they transformed into six completely new outfits. Marika and Filip incorporated an abstract version of the EU stars into the design process, threading them throughout the entire collection to visually align the pieces with our message of creating unity and advocating for a strong, democratic Europe.

Try to spot where the stars have been incorporated!

[work in progress marika and filip]

  • [concept sketch 1]

  • [concept sketch 2]

  • [concept sketch 3]

  • [concept sketch 4]

  • [concept sketch 5]

  • [concept sketch 6]

  • [pre artists sweden outfit]

  • [pre-artists poland outfit]

  • [pre-artists czech outfit]

  • [pre-artists ukraine outfit]

  • [pre-artists france piece]

  • [pre-artists germany piece]

Sophie Hurley Walker for France

“Referencing buried jeans slowly deteriorating over time, and apn’s use of deadstock garments, the broken down then reconstructed pieces have embroidered words hidden amongst the paint and layered figures, embedded into the fibres. Connected by a thread, Souvenir Official’s hoodie, a reminder of how fragile our systems are and how we need to protect them - the gap in a row of stars never felt so wide.

My background is in textile design and I centre my work around the human form and natural world, often figures within a layered composition of colours and organic markings. Taking shapes and lines and expressing these through pattern and texture, treating the mediums I work in as paintings.

I wanted to collaborate with Souvenir Official and APN Gallery because they both stand for causes I care about. As a Remainer, Souvenir’s anti-Brexit beginnings, and apn’s use of deadstock materials felt true to my own practice. The EU is certainly not perfect and there are huge issues with the way it is governed, but I believe that making positive change is about being at the table, not pissing on it - Vote in the EU elections June 6th-9th.“

-Sophie Hurley Walker

[work in progress sophie hurley walker]

  • Original Piece before working on it

    [raw garment]

  • Inspiration

    [inspiration]

  • Experiments

    [experimenting]

  • Bleached

    [bleaching]

  • Final Garment

    [final garment]

Yannic Pöpperling for Germany

“For me as an artist, UNITY means the connection of everything that we do and that we actively engage with in our lives. Material, concept, materiality, ideas, vision, but also emotions and the charge of the work. UNITY is a universal thought that holds us together and connects everything, it is in each of us, because we seek connections and unity for everything we create.


I grew up in the EU and am therefore used to being able to travel freely without major obstacles, for example. For me as an artist, who I always interpret as an explorer, traveling and gathering new inspiration is extremely important. I think a lot is going on in the EU again and it is exciting to follow discourses at a supranational level in which attempts are being made to find compromises for the major issues of our time.

The important thing is that we all have a part to play in shaping this and that's why we all have to vote on June 9th.”

-Yannic Pöpperling

[work in progress yannic pöpperling]

  • [cutting patches]

  • [patch application]

  • [sewing on patches]

  • [detail drawing]

  • [denim layers]

  • [final garment]

Jennie Eklund for Sweden

For me, my artistic expression is about relationships. To be able to tell a story and provide space for the viewer to interpret, feel, dream, and relate. Having the opportunity to enter a platform where artistry meets activism in such a creative way feels like a privilege.

To be provided the platform to create through APN Gallery and Souvenir Official for this cause has been such a fun and enriching experience. Seeing how the artists in this project have chosen to interpret ‘unity’ and execute it has been so inspiring. Above all, it is beautiful to see all the engagement in maintaining the unity of the EU, and how companies see their place as influential players.

Keeping our ties strong in these dark times feels more important than ever. I truly hope everyone recognizes their responsibility and votes for a loving, attentive, and united cooperation in the EU.

-Jennie Eklund

[work in progress jennie eklund]

  • [front finished]

  • [skirt finished]

  • [pants finished]

  • [concepting]

  • [hand drawing the print]

  • [ironing]

Elizabeth Zabelinskaya for Ukraine

“Participating in this collaboration allowed me to realize my ideas affecting this important topic for me and my country - UNITY. I was also very glad to work not only as an art director but also to make things with my own hands.

I tried to maintain the authenticity of the Souvenir brand by adding important and unique symbols that I’ve been working on for a while. I love absolutely everything related to art and creativity and it was a pleasure for me to sew, cut, draw a sketch, and work on the production of things I am grateful to everyone who helped me with this!

This collaboration made me understand that unity is a completely different concept and vision for everyone, but in any case, it binds us all together!”

-Elizabeth Zabelinskaya

[work in progress elisabeth zabelinskaya]

  • [denim cutting]

  • [rivet application]

  • [patch application]

  • [finished denim]

  • [finished hoodie]

  • [final garments]

Jagoda Biernacka for Poland

“In my project, I used the word “unity” many times because I wanted to emphasize its importance. In my works, I like using words because I believe that words have immense power. The meaning of unity gives a feeling of warmth and belonging, and in the context of the EU elections, it highlights how important it is for us to stick together and go vote.”

-Jagoda Biernacka

[work in progress jagoda biernacka]

  • [print development]

  • [finished prints]

  • [finished pants]

  • [finished crew neck]

  • [finished garments front]

  • [finished garments back]

Jirí Procházka for Czech

“I’m an artist based in the medium of photography and its theory, working with intermedia forms, referring to the central theme of my art practice non-linear time perception. While working together with Souvenir Official and APN gallery I decided to use a series of three scans, technical images of climbing plants connected to the idea of unity, not only visually but also with its inner meaning. As a society, we are obviously at the gates of huge changes, and it’s our time to fight for the outcome we will not be ashamed about and not guilty years after. We need to push humanistic directions, and push away short-sighted ambitions that drive our society to its end.”

-Jirí Procházka

[work in progress jiri prochazka]

  • [print application]

  • [print preparation]

  • [finished top front]

  • [finished top back]

  • [finished denims front]

  • [finished denims back]

Credits

Artists:

Sophie Hurley Walker, @hurleywalker

Yannic Pöpperling, @yannicpoepperling

Jennie Eklund, @jenekillustrations

Elizabeth Zabelinskaya, @lizromz

Jagoda Biernacka, @jagacka

Jirí Procházka, @prochazka.jiri148

Creative Direction, Photograpy, and Videography:

Jan Louis Hartung, @janlouishartung

Maximilian Neretin, @maximilianneretin

Henning Schulze, @xo_henning

Styling, Hair, and Make Up:

Masha Berger, @prewozny

Design and Product Development:

Marika Hellmund, @marikahellmund

Filip Bejek, @filip_bejek

Models:

Cecilie, @cecilie.raebel, mirrrsmodels

Elodie, @elodie.tour, mirrrsmodels

Nour, @noouurreg, mirrrsmodels

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