Mapping from Above: Aerial Views and Wearable Topographies

Some views require distance to make sense.

Aerial Shot over Zurich, Switzerland

As a child, I was captivated by the window seat of an airplane—gazing down at the geometry of the landscape below. Fields became grids. Rivers curved like ink. Shorelines stitched the edges of continents. I saw stories in the shapes. I still do. I see the world in geometric shapes.

This year, I returned to that early fascination—not just the literal altitude of aerial photography, but the way it invited me to read the world. From above, patterns emerge. Edges blur. Roads become threads. A harbor, a fold in the fabric.

An aerial view showcasing the geometric patchwork of fields and farmlands, highlighting the structured beauty of the landscape.

Aerial Views over Texas and New Mexico

I started calling these experiments Aerial Rorschach—a series of photos and textile interpretations that resembled inkblots or strange topographies. Monsters, entities, and otherworldly forms sometimes appear, shaped by clouds, erosion, or water lines. I became transfixed, creating hundreds of variations based on images gathered during travels this year.

Aerial Rorschach— California, Türkiye, California

Aerial Rorschach— California

Aerial Rorschach— California

Initially a photography project capturing variations of these patchwork landscapes, it soon evolved . Trying to articulate these images into abstract collages, that transitioned into sketches, which then developed into painted studies of maps,harbors and coastlines using pencil, ink, and watercolors.

Sketchbook page featuring aerial collage work, ink and pencil sketches or watercolor studies

Sketches of coastlines were created using both historical and contemporary maps.

This was succeeded by stitched interpretations, where maps gradually evolved into small threadscapes only a few inches in size.

Ultimately, the design of custom textiles based topographic narratives. The concept emerged that these aerial perspectives could inspire garments designed to serve as wearable landscapes.

Sketch of Men's Suits: Linings embroidered or printed in tight city grids—hidden maps close to the skin.

These aren't exactly costumes; they're more like soft cartographies. Walking turns into a form of mapping.

Sleeveless tabard-inspired dresses featuring intricate topography lines and shifting landscape patterns, blending art and nature-inspired design.

Aerial Rorschach reimagined as a wearable topography.

Concept Sketch captures the essence of Dubrovnik, Croatia, with a dress inspired by its iconic terracotta tile roofs cascading into the rich blue hues of the Adriatic Sea.

Working with these images and materials helped me ask: How can land be worn? What does it mean to carry a place—not as a symbol, but as texture, as shape, as seam?

Minor, seemingly insignificant details turn into connections. The curve of a port city impacts the depth of a neckline. A terracotta tile rooftop design evolves into the layers of a skirt. At other times, it's more about the atmosphere and lighting—perhaps the color of harbor water or the gradient of a hillside fading into twilight inspires a waistcoat design or a piece of jewelry on a lapel.

Contemporary adaptation of a 19th-century frock coat, featuring intricate landscape patterns,surface detailing, and custom printing and painting.

Elegant 19th-century frock coats featuring intricate landscape patterns and surface detailing, showcasing custom printing and painting techniques.

This past winter and spring, I underwent several surgeries and spent months mostly confined to bed. Feeling restless and eager to create, I turned to small-scale projects and experimented with AI-generated digital costume concept sketches—something I don't typically use and which will be a controversial topic in design circles for the foreseeable future. The garments featured in this post were initially conceptualized using DALL·E. It was entertaining—learning to better articulate my ideas in words and crafting prompts (an exercise recommended to designers who find it challenging to verbally express their vision). The results? Polished. Perhaps a bit too polished for my liking. While I may not always be able to create an image that fully captures my ideas with my rendering skills, I missed the tactile experience of materials, the brush in hand, and the intuitive problem-solving that comes with physical creation. For me, true meaning still resides in the chaos—the hand, the stitch, the tangible sense of an idea taking form. There is an energy in that process that I thrive on.

Aerial Rorschach— Chicago By Night

Closing Thought:

Viewed from above, the world appears simplified. However, in the studio, these simplified lines transform back into stories, gradually woven into new landscapes.

-Val

Coming next: Weaving Memory — From Paper Threads to Textile Landscapes