Throughout this project I’ve experimented with methods of cyclical deconstruction and repair to highlight the beauty of aged garments and slow fashion. I applied the best outcomes to a worn jacket, passed down to me by my late grandad, allowing the material to define the direction of the project.
Exploring damage through sanding, cutting, bleaching, burning, rust dyeing, and deliberate staining, led to aged skin-like marks on collected second hand fabrics. These would be repeatedly mended upon by hand with techniques of Shibori, Sashiko, Boro, Embroidery, Darning and Ruching, allowing the fabrics to organically transform over time.
The design inspiration pulled from my photography of wrinkled scarred skin, tattoos and piercings as expressions of my jackets long and rich life, full of joint memory and identity alongside my granddad, and now me.
Exploring such strong emotional ties to this project has been cathartic and important in defining a life-long purpose to inspire others through my work; to push people to rethink their relationship with clothing and incorporate meaningful repair into their style.
