Garment’s life(cycle) is quite unpredictable but at the same time it’s something to take into account when developing a new design. As a maker I wish to establish a trialogue between me, the material and the wearer. I can’t assume that my creation will serve someone for 20 and more years. There are material and emotional aspects at play. I have made some experiments with making jewelry from old polyester briefs since I can’t wear them anymore. I’m not a jewelry designer but it would be nice to have a collaboration where we could create a circular approach to the lingerie design that is already implemented from the start. As a speculative design it means modeling a choice for the wearer and to stay open to possibilities and to a potential change in the future, even though it’s unpredictable.
“The material itself is full of suggestions for its use if we approach it unaggressively, receptively” Anny Albers.
Another great approach to the restoration of ‘the worn’ that I discovered while reading about conscious art/fashion projects in The Netherlands is the Golden Joynery project. It’s a practice inspired by the Japanese technique Kintsugi, where broken porcelain is visibly healed with gold. I decided to try to fix holes in my garments by darning, embroidering and stitching them with a golden thread, and I am hooked. I loved fixing lingerie this way. To expand my slow-sewing skillset I have joined the Common Threads community in Amsterdam with some amazing thread experts.
The sustainable fashion movement and the ethics of fashion
