The Orange Print

It started with a school assignment.

I was studying Visual Art and Design at USN Notodden, and the task was simple: create organic patterns. I explored different approaches, but at some point I picked up an orange, cut it in half, and started printing with it. The kind of thing you do in kindergarten — except this time I filmed it.

I posted the video on TikTok without thinking much of it. And then something strange happened.

5.2 million views. Nearly 700,000 likes. For an orange.

It still feels a bit surreal. Something so simple, so low-tech, so unplanned — and people couldn't stop watching it. The next part of the assignment was to transfer the organic pattern onto different materials. Textile was one of them. I had a t-shirt lying around, built a simple frame, and printed within it. That went viral too. People wanted to see more.

And people around me wanted one.

So I started taking orders from friends. I ended up making around 15 to 20 pieces, ordering new garments for each one. But it didn't feel right. Buying in new clothing just to print on it sat uncomfortably with me — even then.

What did feel right was having my own expression on a garment. I've always loved cool clothing with cool design. I just wanted to do it on my own terms.

So I kept going. Just differently.