Young London-based fashion designer Miriam Johanna turns the spotlight on one of the world's most precious resources: water. A creative gesture that takes the form of a collection of singular hats.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOURSELF?
My name is Miriam Johanna. I have a diverse background: my father is of German origin and my mother is of African origin from Togo. I was born in Bavaria, Germany, and spent my twenties in Berlin, where I graduated in fashion design. In 2022, I moved to London to do my Masters at the London College of Fashion (MA Fashion Artefact), specializing in Headwear Design.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO EXPLORE THE WORLD OF DESIGN? WHAT IS YOUR FIRST MEMORY OF THIS DISCIPLINE?
Throughout my teenage years, I was always captivated by fashion. My mother is a trained dressmaker and my aunt worked for Dior, which undoubtedly influenced my interests. I can't pinpoint a single memory that triggered my passion for design, but it's always been part of my life.

ALSO, DO YOU HAVE A MENTOR OR DESIGNER WHOSE WORK MADE YOU WANT TO BE A DESIGNER?
There are many designers I admire, but I'd like to mention John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy, Martin Margiela and Vivienne Westwood. Their unique approaches to fashion and storytelling inspire me enormously. On a more personal note, my tutors during my master's studies, Georgina Goodman and Naomi Filmer, played a central role in shaping my design language. Their talent and advice were invaluable!

WHAT IS THE CONDUCT OF YOUR TRAIL AND YOUR WORK?
As I've only just graduated, I'm at the very beginning of my career and still have a lot to discover. My aim is to continue exploring fashion headwear while staying true to my design language.

Ideveloped the "Daughters of Rain" collection while studying at the London College of Fashion. This project responds, through the language of fashion, to our current environmental water crisis and draws attention to the importance of rainwater as a sustainable freshwater resource that we can harness. For this project, I imagined a future where fresh water is so scarce that rain becomes a precious symbol of its scarcity. In this world, rain is so precious that every time it falls, we rush outside, eager to catch every drop by any means possible, even by what we're wearing. The aim of my work is to provoke thought, raise awareness and spark conversations about our relationship with water and the environment.

"DAUGHTERS OF RAIN" IS ALSO A STORY...
Daughters of Rain is a visionary company born out of the escalating water crisis predicted for 2085. The company is committed to environmental stewardship and advocates a sustainable relationship between humanity and water, focusing on rainwater harvesting. The "Daughters of Rain" aesthetic is inspired by lay sisters and their dedication, heroism and solidarity during crises. These sisters exemplify the mission of a world order, uniting women across the centuries in a common creative purpose. Like converse sisters, the Daughters of Rain serve their communities by collecting, managing and distributing rainwater. I made my pieces from Barbour waxed cotton. My work is first and foremost a speculative and conceptual fashion project, creating imaginative yet thought-provoking accessories. It's important to note that I'm not proposing a solution. Rather, my work aims to raise awareness of this issue, provoking thought and dialogue.

@MIJODA.DAJOMI
MIJODADAJOMI.COM
PHOTOGRAPHER: CASSIA AGYEMAN @CASSIAAGY
MODEL: STELLA YAN Q @STELLA_YAN_Q