Marian, Carlien, Ineke & Sjaco | Axel, Zeeland | The Netherlands, 2021

Their distinctive traditional outfits are some of the most striking in the Netherlands. This is the result of Axel’s centuries-long isolation .The folds in the traditional costumes women in Axel wear are magnificent, pointing up like wings, or like tail fins on a 1950s American car. The style originally began with small pleats in the cloth around the shoulders but grew higher over time as women were keen to outdo their neighbours and used packing paper to create ever more ingenious constructions.