The workshop brought together Kasia Zofia Gorniak’s doctoral research in collective meaning-creation in clothes with Softislab’s experimentation in the multi-sensorial material experience.
In the workshop, participants were invited to use tactile knowledge to uncover meanings and feelings around materials and clothes. Working in pairs, they were guided through a process of responding intuitively to a diverse array of fabrics using all of their senses except sight using prompts e.g. “Does sensing the material trigger any memories – an experience, a person, a garment?” The pair transcribed the thoughts and afterwards the respondent could formulate the most meaningful findings into a poetic notes, that were machine embroidered onto a collective shirt creating a wearable brainstorm.
Old book, dry grass
In between butt and saddle
Stuck to the wood – Delicate
I don’t communicate with it
It has it’s own will
Itchy, goosebumps, overwhelming “I want to take it off “/” I want to go home
Sounds like little mice playing
Bright ice cream cone
Stroking a pony
Step on first snow
Sinking to heavy sleepy slowness
Supported by: Aalto University
Photography: Jere J. Aalto