MA Project
2021-23
A Hairy Situation
Material and Fibre Exploration / Tackling Cotton Consumption
An investigation into the relationship of fibre; normalisation of using waste by-product materials within the textiles industry.
Close up twill / Raffia + Linen
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Getting back into it…
This image is a close up photo of one of my first woven samples back at uni. It is a twill using a raffia weft and linen warp. This was the very beginning of my masters before my project had fully evolved; it was just about getting back on the loom and playing with fibres.
Visual Research
A variety of delicate line drawings using different media. This is hair dipped in paint and draped across the page to produce an organic movement and juxtaposition.
Hair drawing
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Mark Making using horse hair
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Visual Research
Further mark making ideas to produce weight, negative space and composition ideas to translate into fabrics.
Concept
My concept is based on the use of waste by-product materials that may otherwise be overlooked and discarded. These mainly include hair, horse-hair and dog fur. Whilst combining these with more sustainable fibre choices such as viscose, rPET yarn, bamboo and so on.
Concept Board - Images are not mine but are individually referenced.
Horse hair + viscose
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Sampling
Beginning to sample with various fibres such as horse hair on a viscose warp.
Sampling
Continuing to sample and experiment with the combination of fibres and lifting plans.
Viscose blanket warp
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Woven Samples
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Off the loom
Once off the loom the samples can be manipulated and finished in a variety of ways, something I am looking to explore further throughout my MA.
Off the loom
Experimenting with warp waste from the loom to create more samples as well as looking at fringing and edging of the samples.
Horse hair and viscose sample
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Hand-spun dog fur (Chiengora)
Dog Fur
After contacting a local dog groomers for their waste brushed dog fur, I successfully hand spun 100% dog fur yarn (chiengora).
Weaving Dog fur
Here I’ve experimented with weaving with my dog fur on a bamboo warp. I tried a variety of structures. This sample is just steamed but I want to experiment with brushing, felting and washing the sample to push my finishing techniques.
Woven dog fur on bamboo warp
Woven human hair and linen on viscose warp
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Human Hair
Ive also started experimenting with human hair, with it being such a big issue with waste but such an interesting material, I wanted to experiment with weaving with it. Here I have used my old (real) hair extensions.
Experimenting
Experimenting with spacing and individual warps weaving together to push sampling ideas.
Experimental Sampling
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