Concept – Can looking back at historical approaches in textile manufacture and care prolong the life of textiles and garments today?

In this project I have created a collection of textiles for the casual outdoor apparel industry inspired by durability, time and working life. This inspiration is used not only visually through the print and stitch elements in my work, but also practically by utilising historical processes that prolong the life of textiles.

Historically, people bought less textile goods than we do today. And what was bought lasted much longer as garments were made to a higher standard, cared for better and mended when broken. Our relationship with textiles has changed a great deal since then. Textiles and garments wear out much quicker due to poor industry practices and are thrown away sooner because of the consumer’s disposable nature. Within this project, I have taken influence from these historical textile processes and attitudes to create a collection that will last and live on. I have specifically looked into techniques used in the manufacture of workwear as these clothes were built to endure daily wear and tear and withstand the elements. In addition to this, I have incorporated traditional mending techniques, like patchwork and darning, into my designs as a way of encouraging consumers to repair and add to the fabric when it finally does wear down.