Summer Semester 2010,

UTOPTION

„The idea of design and the profession of the designer have to be transformed from the notion of a specialist function into a generally valid attitude of resourcefulness and inventiveness which allows projects to be seen not in isolation but in relationship with the need of the individual community.“

László Moholy-Nagy, 1947

From Use to Reuse

Against the backdrop of a modern consumer-oriented society, known in German as “WegwerfGesellschaft” “throwaway society” and the need for more ecological thinking, the project UTOPTION questions our relationship with the materials we use and explores the concepts of fast and slow fashion through visual comparison. The goal is to create awareness for the value of materials and inspire a more considerate use of material in the textile and fashion industry.

Two visually almost identical garment collections were created, differing only in their approach towards sustainability- key difference being the materials employed, each representing distinct aspects of quality and function. Both collections emphasize the usefulness and function of a particular item of clothing, exploring and demonstrating two different approaches to fashion and function.

Material and (In)Formation

One collection is made of high quality organic fabrics representing longevity, craftsmanship and comfort. It is presented alongside it‘s twin collection made entirely of paper. Both collections are identical in terms of pattern cutting as well as colour and shape, which make a direct comparison possible.

The paper collection has a short life span, while giving the pleasure of novelty. It represents the concept of Fast Fashion. Wear and tear, discarding the wardrobe after only one use is not an option but a must. Consumers are prompted to reflect on their shopping habits and are enabled to adjust their wardrobe according to their needs, occasion or usage, in order to avoid “shopping mistakes” in the ecological sense, since the paper is 100% recyclable.

The project aims to show the necessity of being aware of the material characteristics of a product as well as its origins and production process, to give wearers a sense of the value and quality of their clothes. UTOPTION is an experiment in awareness that challenges habitual conventions and aims to initiate a new ecological consciousness.

RENEWABLE MATERIALS

DESIGN QUALITY

SHORT LIFE/LONG FIFE

Supervision Prof. Dr. Zane Berzina, Prof. Susanne Schwarz-Raacke, Prof. Heike Selmer
Project categorySemester Project