What Remains
A short fashion film on grief, memory, & the clothing we keep
What Remains is a poetic short film about the quiet power of clothing in the aftermath of loss.
When someone we love dies, we're often left with love and no vessel to pour it into. This film explores how garments - especially those tied to memory - can become containers for grief, comfort, and emotional regulation.
Blending intimate voiceover, unscripted interview, and tactile cinematography, What Remains invites you to see fashion not as performance, but as psychological scaffolding.
Written and directed by: Jennifer Heinen
Cinematography: Filip Szczepaniak (Outlined Unitd) | Instagram & Website
Photography: Kaya Dawkins (Kaya Creative) | Instagram & Website
Edited by: Filip Szczepaniak (Outlined Unitd)
Produced in partnership with: ASVOFF17 (A Shaded View On Fashion Film)
The Psychology Behind
the Film
In fashion psychology, grief often shows up through clothing:
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Enclothed Memory: Garments carry emotional and sensory traces of those we love
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Emotional Regulation: Familiar fabrics can calm the nervous system during loss
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Transitional Objects: Clothing acts as a bridge between presence and absence
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Attachment & Identity: What we keep - and what we wear - reflects who we’re still connected to
Still Photography
Taken by Kaya Dawkins
If this film moved you, I invite you to explore more about how clothing shapes our inner lives.
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And remember: Death doesn’t mean leaving.. it just means someone is folding into the part of your life that memory keeps warm.
Love,
Jen