The series Reeds Field is a collaboration with a few friends from Cape Town. For my fashion shoot assignment at Cape Town School of Photography I reached out to my friends, who were already working as team to promote their designer clothes, modelling and photography careers.

In my head I had a clear idea how I wanted to use the unique look of model Danni and the white clothes of Natalie. I immediately saw a strong woman; pure and sacred but not conventional, peaceful and yet a warrior, an independent queen with her own queendom.

In retrospect I think the theme emerged unconsciously from deep within - a wish I have for women all over the world: To rise strong in a peaceful way, to be able to protect themselves with their wisdom and queendom, to step out the conventional way and be(come) their own destiny.

Still now, even in first world countries like Switzerland there is no proper equality between man and woman. Even worse, in many countries being a woman is not safe. Having lived in South Africa for several years, a country where domestic violence and femicide have high numbers in crime statistics, it was and is important to me to put independency, strength and uniqueness of a woman before the conventional sex sells of a fashion shoot. Women should feel inspired to be strong and rule their world, instead of pleasing where and what society wants them to be.

Hout Bay, 2020

Model: DanniK

Designer: Natalie

Assistant in all matters: Farentino