Wearing

Wearing the T-shirt

The project T-shirt was distributed among those who had contributed to its creation, including the designers, farmers, ginners, and stitchers. First, the Costume Design and Fashion students at ECAS received the T-shirt. They were encouraged to smell the fabric, feel its texture, and make it their own.

Wearing a garment is a significant part of its story. Whether you wear it the way it is, or modify it to suit your style, the T-shirt becomes a part of your identity. The students in Erode and Rotterdam customized their T-shirts. Follow their journey below.

Costume, Design and Fashion professors and lecturers at ECAS. Photo: Mayke Groffen.

A visual introduction to the Erode College of Arts and Sciences programme Costume, Design and Fashion. Production: LGGB team.

The LGGB team interacting with students at ECAS. Photo: Erik de Maaker.

Handing out of the project T-shirts to the students at ECAS. Production: LGGB team.

Unpacking

The ECAS students received the project T-shirt. Several assignments were designed to capture their initial reactions, encouraging them to use all their senses to evaluate the garment. The students also shared their thoughts on the dilemmas involved in producing and wearing garments.

Identity and creativity

Students at Zadkine College creatively explored questions of identity and dress creatively, customizing their project T-shirts in unique ways.

At Zadkine College in Rotterdam, students are making the project T-shirt their own. Production: LGGB team.

ECAS students also explored questions of identity and dress. They then expressed these ideas by customizing the project T-shirts, making them uniquely their own.

ECAS students went all-out in customizing their project T-shirts. Production: LGGB team.

To make it her own, an ECAS student painted “Women need freedom like a bird” on her project T-shirt. Photo: Mayke Groffen.

Costume, Design and Fashion students wearing the project T-shirt. Photo: Ellen Haeser.

At ECAS the students concluded the workshop with a fashion show. Production: LGGB team.

Proudly customized

After customizing their project T-shirts, ECAS students presented and explained their designs in a concluding fashion show.

Toolbox Wearing

Just like the toolbox in Chapter 1, this one provides links to additional resources that can help you dive deeper into the themes discussed in this book. This toolbox includes links to videos, blogs, online publications, articles, and books. You can explore topics like “the real value of cotton,” “international trade in second-hand garments,” and “globalization,” with many of these themes further divided into subtopics. Enjoy watching and reading!

The value of cotton

What is the real value of cotton? Get to know more about the environmental impact of making and processing cotton from the perspective of the people who produce it.

Angel Chang

Fashion designer Angel Chang talks about the impact of producing cotton and the consequences of fast fashion.

Fashion revolution

Fashion Revolution is a project-based team, focusing on the history and consequences of fast fashion. In the lesson below, they dwell upon the consequences of fast fashion for cotton farmers in terms of forced labor. The lesson can be viewed as a flip book (Hermesmeyer) or a video (Slovakia Fashion Revolution).

How it’s made

The science channel “How It’s Made” shows a video on the history of processing cotton since the 18th century.

    Identity

    National identities

    In 2018, the curatorial team at the European Fashion Heritage Association looked at how fashion plates in various European archives have created and imagined national identities.

    Globalization

    Before T-shirts end up in stores, both the cotton they are made of and the final product have already traveled around the world. This is due to the globalized fashion value network. After being discarded by its first owner, a T-shirt travels further around the world if it becomes part of the international trade in secondhand clothing.

    T-shirts travel around the world

    International trade in secondhand garments

    You might assume that donating your old T-shirts and other old clothes at a collection point is an act of charity. However, the large quantities of secondhand clothing collected and imported into countries like those in Africa can actually pose a threat to local clothing industries.

    More inspiration

    Need some more inspiration? Check out these examples from Museum Rotterdam’s collection:

    Worn-out apron

    Museums often collect specially designed garments that are also in excellent condition. However, consider this ordinary work apron from a farm, worn down to its last thread. What stories does such a piece of clothing hold? And when does a garment trule reach the end of its lifespan?

    Today, we often replace clothes before they even show traces of wear. However, some expensive designer garments are sold with intentional rips or splatters. This worn-out clothing trend is easy to imitate. But another trend might be even more rewarding: frequently wearing and repairing your clothes, with visible mending that showcases each patch and repair. Visible mending is as good for the wallet as for the environment.

    Worn-out work apron, about 1960. Photo Museum Rotterdam.


    Collection Museum Rotterdam, inv.nr. 26987.

    Recycled

    This embroidered sweater is made from recycled cotton. Fibers are recovered from used clothing and spun into yarn again. Existing materials are reused, which reduces the need for new raw materials. As a result, recycled cotton has a lower environmental impact. Thijs van Buuren embroidered large sunflowers onto a blue sweater made from recycled cotton, making it into something completely new.

    Sweater from recycled cotton, embroidered by Thijs van Buuren between 2010 and 2014. Photo: Museum Rotterdam.


    Collection Museum Rotterdam, inv.nr. 91570.

    Embroidered

    At just 14 years old, Thijs began using his mother’s sewing machine to make patches for his school bag. Within a short time he had a business. In 2004, when Thijs was 16, his father invested in an embroidery machine for him. Back then, there were no step-by-step videos on YouTube. Thijs taught himself how to use the machine and set up his own company in 2008. He further honed his skills through courses in Graphic Design and Industrial Product Design. Thijs paid off his first embroidery machine many years ago and now runs a successful business, designing new items for his own clothing line.