An interest in material culture and the stories objects tell gave birth to the Collar Species Series. What we choose to wear is a reflection of the social influences of our time, as well as our personal taste. Our clothing then becomes an extension of our defined self. Snyder Wallace questions, “Is there a point when the owner’s essence becomes impregnated in the fiber allowing the textile object to become an entity in and of itself with its own story to tell?”

Found discarded at flea markets and antique shops without known provenance, each vintage collar encourages examination allowing a distinctive personality to emerge. The fiber art is displayed in specimen boxes, allowing these collars to achieve an elevated status making them worthy of both interpretation and preservation.