About Me
Hi, I`m Emma from the University of Salford
I am a diligent, curious, nature-loving individual with an interest in all forms of design, performing arts and creative discourse. My interests lie predominately in live materials, regenerative and earth-centric design. I am inspired by the opportunity to shift the focus of the current anthropogenic design scene towards achieving a synergy with the nature.
I have interned at Dundas, Jun Jie Liu and Phase Eight, participated in live briefs: Stella McCartney, Iceberg, Goldsmiths Vintage and participated in international collaborations: the Sustainable Challenge 2020 focusing on eradicating gender binaries and looking at industrial symbiosis via British Council and Barcelona Design Week. I participated in Shanghai’s Future Lab as well several online short courses on sustainable textiles with UAL.
INSPIRATION
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing)
For my final collection, I investigated shinrin-yoku, also known as forest bathing, looking at how we can utilise the health benefits utilising the health benefits: such as increased positive mental health, increased activity of your immune system, and lowered stress levels; within garments. To produce these effects I incorporated a series of cross-industry collaborations including a sponsorship for airplants to create photosynthesing garments and utilising carbon sequestering finishes.
I also wish to challenge our relationship with our clothes, to enable a reciprocal relationship. This will hopefully change our perspective of clothes as disposable, realising instead that they are living and that we are the support providing them life.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
SHINRIN-YOKU: Concept
SHINRIN-YOKU: Tribe
SHINRIN-YOKU: Colour and Fabric
SHINRIN-YOKU: Initial Ideas
SHINRIN-YOKU: Browzwear Drape
SHINRIN-YOKU: Living Textile Development
SHINRIN-YOKU: Cupro Weave Mix
SHINRIN-YOKU: Line Up
SHINRIN-YOKU: Range Plan
EXCESS & REDUCTION: Concept
EXCESS & REDUCTION: Colour and Fabric
EXCESS & REDUCTION: Initial Collage
EXCESS & REDUCTION: Biomaterial Exploration
EXCESS & REDUCTION: Line Up
FLUIDITY: Concept
FLUIDITY: Drape
FLUIDITY: T-Shirt exploration
FLUIDITY: Coat Development
FLUIDITY: Line Up
DETAIL
Photosynthesising textiles and carbon sequestering paint
The collections final outcome combines a range of living garments, through the use of airplants sewn together to form a photosynthesising textile, with carbon sequestering painted and printed cupro (recycled cotton) to embody the essence of forest bathing. The collection is almost entirely biodegradable, with all materials except for trimmings meeting this criteria: deadstock suiting wool, cupro, paint and a mixture of wool yarns (100% natural). I am aware that sustainability is a constant cycle of progression and would love to focus away from animal based yarns in future, looking towards lyocell and bamboo alternatives and including all trims as biodegradable.
“CAN WE CREATE A WORLD OF LIVING MATERIALS THAT HAVE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS: SELF-REPLICATION, SELF-REGULATION, SELF-HEALING, ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIVENESS AND SELF-SUSTAINABILITY?”
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