Hidden Senses: A Sartorial Exploration of Synesthesia

This editorial delves into the extraordinary phenomenon of synesthesia—a neurological condition where the senses intertwine, experienced by roughly 4% of the population. At its core, this feature celebrates the unique way synesthetes perceive the world, where sound becomes shape, and music evokes colour.

Visual artist and photographer Nas Abraham offers a personal lens on sound-colour synesthesia, where abstract shapes or “photisms” are triggered by auditory experiences. Through this editorial, viewers are invited into the synesthetic experience, translating these sensory crossovers into a visual narrative shaped by fashion and art.

The creative SOS team brings this vision to life through striking portrayals of dark-skinned models adorned in avant-garde, sculptural silhouettes. These designs reflect the “photisms” Nas perceives, with a painted backdrop and meticulous post-editing mimicking the vibrant interplay of colour and form in the synesthetic mind.