Join Katie on her Amazon adventure in "Nature’s Laboratory," a collection inspired by this vital natural wonder. This travel diary captures nature's beauty and encourages you to make memories, face fears, and embrace adventure. It also highlights the importance of biodiversity and the dedication of those who protect it. Founder and Creative Director, Katie Kolodinski, honours environmental activists and indigenous communities. Explore the Amazon's wonders and the stories that lie within.
ROAD TRIP - KATIE’S TRAVEL DIARY TO THE AMAZON
THE WORLD'S BIGGEST NATURAL LABORATORY
“The Amazon rainforest is fascinating, but it always seemed inaccessible and slightly anxiety-inducing. In many areas in South America, it is advised to exercise caution and not travel within 20 km of the Colombian border due to high crime rates. This is precisely where I wanted to go. There is political unrest, and many environmental activists have lost their lives. It never crossed my mind that I could go and see it for myself till this year.” - Katie Kolodinski
I put my reservations aside and travelled to the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, very close to the border of Columbia, with Esther Martinez, our Art Director and my very close friend. It was a trip of a lifetime that took both courage and strength. We trekked in muddy overgrowth with holes in our boots, swung on vines and used the pheromones from ants as a natural bug repellant. The sheer size of the orchids and leaves alone look like they only belong in storybooks.
We saw pink dolphins, green frogs, monkeys and tarantulas. Turtles, Blue morpho butterflies and, to the best of my knowledge, even saw Psychotria Elata, aka Hot lips plant, which is now endangered due to habitat loss. Hot Lips features in this collection, Nature's Laboratory. I consider it the catalyst that started this collection – or for the purpose of this letter, the foreign substance that created a pearl.
“For me, this collection is about making memories, facing fears, and choosing to live adventurously. It also highlights the importance of biodiversity and the people who dedicate their lives to preserving it. I would like you to hold a space for the environmental activists and indigenous people who have lost their lives or have been imprisoned for fighting for justice.” - Katie Kolodinski
Art Direction & Photography: Katie Kolondinski and Esther Martinez
