From the heartlands of Brexit
to the borders of Ukraine,
Europe is changing.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/041368b5947c4508e4afec06f370c055a3386b4cc9fc0bd3a387d9e2d88bc453/Woman-ID-portrait.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/05f8c39a9337f11196092e93692df6dbe9de4ffe4dcb98b715bd11c0c8030441/Why.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/307bdf8f49bddb02ce66bcadfc0b231dd020f02e8881728579c0dc2c19cb54e7/The-Sun---Brexit-Headline.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f2ac25c8054d701aff62cca4237e6b74a7c3c2d0f94f5ec63c3638015fff279f/Valeria---Kamila-K-Stanley-2021---Declaring-Independence-Greece---IMG_2136.jpg)
Declaring Independence is a visual essay
piecing together the
27 countries
of the European Union;
featuring the work of
independent British & European
fashion designers.
︎
We’re travelling through the 27 countries of the EU.
In each country, we meet locals
and offer to take their portraits.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e40d6c6fccd27e2ffe59bbeac3232ea6f48ad4cb1a87a65ab99cef6ab7315400/Text-Athens-message.png)
![MARIANNA LADREYT is a Paris-based fashion designer.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c33b226486bb4cc527d491a9fe47e1c0c02ef1e6146650dd959f6e2339a156c1/MARIANNA-LADREYT-Float-Declaring-Independence.gif)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b80c4cc5631e7b1350cccfc5fc4aa8e6bd08b2835b6698bfe0778346ba424e80/What-.png)
However,
to go beyond conventional photojournalism — towards something more creative and collaborative — we travel with fashion garments from independent European and British-based designers.
Each sitter can chose to wear any of these garments from other creatives and cultures — thus shaping the image of Europe that he, she or they wish to reflect.
The result is hybrid: part social-documentary, part fashion editorial.
Each portrait is the result of choices made with the sitter: about their clothing, the location, and the image they want to reflect.
It's an invitation to question, unlearn and rebuild what it means to be "European" — beyond governments, beyond the troika, beyond institutions.
![Anastasia is a dancer in Athens wearing MARIANNA LADREYT](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8be787598b928333b9b153e260f016e216b8f3cb4b440487a99cbff9ec175e35/Kamila-K-Stanley---Declaring-Independence-2022---7.jpg)