Blog post 3: Project outcome and personal development
Now having finished my chosen discipline of ‘mask making and politics’ and reflecting on the better lives themes, I feel that I have been heavily influenced by them all. Having the opportunity to complete this project I have been able to put into practise the key themes of sustainability, diversity and social responsibility. I feel that I have made progress in adapting my creative thought process when designing to consider these elements every time I create something new. I’ve realised that if the whole industry started to do this, then, over time we could make significant improvements to the state of the fashion industry currently and begin reversing its environmentally damaging effects.
As a costume student, I have been inspired by the intricacy of Haute Couture masks. Upon discovering that ‘the apparel industry alone accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions’I felt this needed more attention so I chose to focus on the importance of sustainability as my political message. After conducting more research I discovered that ’70 million trees are cut down each year to make our clothes.’Making matters worse, ‘30% of rayon and viscose clothing comes from endangered and ancient forests.”Every year, thousands of hectares of forests are cut down and replaced by plantations’ to account for this. The ‘loss of forests is threatening the ecosystem and indigenous communities’, which in turn, reflects how all the better lives themes link, as through a lack of social responsibility impacting sustainability, our planet’s diversity is being affected. (All citations from: ‘Sustain your style’ 2017)
Consequently, I decided a powerfully visual way to show the importance of sustainability was by exhibiting the death of our planet’s Rainforests through my mask. The adapted brief due to Covid-19 meant that my design ideas improved. Without the hinderance of having to obtain materials, I had limitless opportunity. Further inspired by Salisbury’s lecture on Inclusion and her mention of smart textiles, I knew that I wanted to include said technology within my design:
MODEL~Cajsa Wessberg
DESIGN~Originally illustrated on paper and then digitally manipulated using ‘Picsart’ and layered over Cajsa’s face.
The base is constructed from a recycled and renovated gas mask. It symbolises how without a focus on sustainability we are enhancing the greenhouse affect and in turn suffocating our planet -’23 kg of greenhouse gases are produced for every kilo of fabric produced.’(Sustain your style 2017) The mask would then be embellished with recycled astroturf grass, and foliage constructed out of Tyvek fabric offcuts, dyed naturally. With a purpose of being shown as part of a catwalk collection pioneering the importance of sustainable design. Finally, the mask would be sprayed with thermochromic ink invisible at room temperature, however in the performance environment, the models would be walking on the runway slowly against warm air blowing at them. Throughout the duration of the runway show, the masks would begin to change colour turning black and the heat mouldable Tyvek flowers would begin to change shape and wilt as if the flowers were withering away. The mask’s performance exhibits the rainforest dying as a result of a lack of serious focus on sustainability.
REFERENCES
- Salisbury, L. (2020) ‘Inclusion’ [Lecture]. Better Lives, London College of Fashion, 14 February.
- Sustain your style (2017) Environmental Impact. Available at: https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmental-impacts (27/04/20)
10th May 2020 @ 6:27 pm
Hi Amelia¡ I chose your vlog for the peer review, I will leave it here in the comments.
You did an amazing job!
After reading a few posts by other students on the platform, I found a very interesting one written by Amelia Haslett in which she reflects on the great impact of the fashion industry and the need for a change in terms of sustainability.
Within the blog, Amelia starts reviewing on how the Better Lifes unit has changed her way of thinking and working towards a more conscientious creative process where sustainability, diversity and social responsibility are considered. As a costume student, Haslett’s interest lies in haute couture, so in her chosen discipline of this term (mask making and politics) she decided to make her mask inspired by this section of the fashion industry, however, after doing some research she found some disturbing facts from the industry. She discovered such disturbing facts as “more than 70 million trees are cut down every year to make our clothes”, “30% of rayon and viscose clothing comes from endangered and ancient forests”, “every year thousands of hectares of forest are cut down and replaced by plantations ”and many more.
After thinking about all the problems of the situation, Amelia decided to focus her intentions in designing a mask that shows the importance of the forests on our planet and exhibits the death of nature. Due to the current situation with the COVID-19 and the impossibility of making the mask physically, Amelia has been able to unleash her creativity without having to worry about access to some products that, in a normal situation, perhaps she couldn’t have brought easily. to get. The final design of the mask is built on a recycled gas mask, thus achieving a second life for the object and symbolizing the problem of the greenhouse effect. The mask features a series of floral ornaments, grass and leaves constructed out of Tyvek fabric offcuts (a 100% recyclable textile) and died naturally without chemicals. Finally, the mask would be sprayed with thermochromic ink invisible at room temperature, revealing a dark finish in hot temperatures. The final purpose of this shifting colour is to recreate the “dying process” of the forests in the world because of the greenhouse effect and other factors.
In conclusion, I think the outcome idea of Amelia is brilliant. The final design of the mask and her idea to present it in the catwalk next to hot air flow in order to show the colour change is a concept that has surprised me. The use of recycled materials and modern technology in pursuit of the more sustainable fashion industry is something of vital importance, and projects like this are a great example of the infinite possibilities that await us in this field. However, I would love this vlog to reflect on other topics covered in the Better Lifes unit such as diversity, and establishing connections with its importance for sustainability and future of the fashion industry.