Starting from the edge, material-Discarded fabric
Overall, the fashion industry as a whole is contributing more to climate change than the aeronautical and shipping industries combined. If trends continue, the industry could account for a quarter of the world’s carbon budget by 2050. To address the issue I find refuge in the traditional crafts which use old discarded fabrics to create beautifully crafted utility products. ‘Quilt Culture’ is an ongoing project where I research on how different cultures deal with the idea of discarded fabrics and if there are any traditional crafts with works on the idea of recycling. During the three months of residency at ACC Gwangju, I started researching on the traditional S. Korean quilting technique Bojagi. It is a traditional Korean wrapping cloth, typically square and can be made from a variety of materials, though silk or ramie are common. The patchwork or scrap bojagi is known as chogak bo.
I work on the mantra of ‘Collect, Collaborate & Create’. I met local designers, tailors and interviewed them to understand their system of waste fabric management. Then collected discarded fabrics from them. I learned Bojagi from local craftswomen and designed a collaborative quilting technique using Bojagi (Korean quilting technique) and Godhadi (Indian Quilting technique). Using this quilting technique, I designed cushion covers, table runners and chair cushion pads. The culmination of the project was to set up a channel, where the local Gwangju community of designers, tailors, and craftswomen collaboratively process the waste fabric and make products out of it. This is a community craft platform for craftswomen and designers/tailors to get-together to exchange waste fabric and ideas.
This project continues, as Asia Cultural Institute is willing to develop this channel where creative minds will work with crafts community to address the pressing issues.
I work on the mantra of ‘Collect, Collaborate & Create’. I met local designers, tailors and interviewed them to understand their system of waste fabric management. Then collected discarded fabrics from them. I learned Bojagi from local craftswomen and designed a collaborative quilting technique using Bojagi (Korean quilting technique) and Godhadi (Indian Quilting technique). Using this quilting technique, I designed cushion covers, table runners and chair cushion pads. The culmination of the project was to set up a channel, where the local Gwangju community of designers, tailors, and craftswomen collaboratively process the waste fabric and make products out of it. This is a community craft platform for craftswomen and designers/tailors to get-together to exchange waste fabric and ideas.
This project continues, as Asia Cultural Institute is willing to develop this channel where creative minds will work with crafts community to address the pressing issues.