Growing Pains (Don’t Cry, I Still Love You)

Alex Strachan’s graduate collection, ‘Growing Pains (Don’t Cry, I Still Love You),’ delves into the complex emotional tension between the desire for growth and the fear of leaving familiarity behind. The collection reflects on the bittersweet process of outgrowing one’s environment while still feeling deeply tied to its comfort and memories. Rooted in Alex’s personal journey, the work draws heavily on his experiences growing up in the South Otago region, a place that has shaped his identity yet now feels both nurturing and confining. Through this collection, Alex transforms introspection into design, using fashion as a language to express vulnerability, longing, and transformation. Each piece serves as a poetic exploration of the internal conflict between staying and moving on, between love for one’s origins and the necessity of self-evolution. ‘Growing Pains’ ultimately captures the universal struggle of change, identity, and emotional resilience in the face of growth.

Photography: Willow Coombs