A Return to the Atelier
Rediscovering the craft, the process, and the heart of making.
Editor’s Note:
"This piece was written following a deeply personal return to the atelier a moment that marked the beginning of a renewed relationship with craft and making. As The WR Journal launches, we share it now as the first chapter in an ongoing exploration of process, memory, and design."
For a long time, my studio sat in silence. After moving out of my former space, my sewing machines and mannequins were tucked away in storage, waiting patiently as I shifted my focus toward sketching, patternmaking, and design development. Even when I moved into a new apartment with a home studio, I never fully set it up. I told myself I would get to it eventually, but the rhythm of life and the demands of the industry kept me from returning to the craft in its truest form.
That changed recently when I decided to create something deeply personal, a birthday dress for someone very special to me. I drew inspiration from my upcoming collection, Aso Ibile II, which pays homage to the timeless beauty and symbolism found in Aníkúlápó. The dress became more than just a garment; it became a bridge back to the part of myself I had left dormant for years.
As I draped the fabric, shaped the silhouette, and stitched each seam, I felt the same excitement I had when I first discovered fashion. It reminded me of the magic of having my own atelier the intimate act of transforming fabric into form, and sketches into reality.
This experience reignited my love for draping and sewing, crafts I had not truly practiced in nearly eight years. What began as a gift became a rebirth. And now, this dress; born out of love, memory, and rediscovery will join the upcoming Aso Ibile II collection, marking not just a new chapter for Washington Roberts, but also a personal return to the essence of creation.
— Washington Roberts
