A Slow down

The foundational inspiration for this project stems from the slow design movement, a sustainable design strategy that aims to slower the speed of people, use of resources and promote healthy behavioural habits towards consumption. My practice endorses this concept by embracing different woven and dyeing techniques that acknowledge the potential of handcraft skills to create usable contemporary textile pieces, while counterbalancing the speed of manufactured materials by bigger brands. Furthermore, the aesthetic basis is inspired by nature’s ability to help alleviate insomnia and anxiety symptoms. The inky blues and rich purples found in the late evening skies, fossilised shells, spring flora and water became focalised colours in the project, inspired by their frequent use in sleep products and apps. The use of colour gradations and ikat dyeing with these sleepy colours supported by some warming neutrals obtained from patio slabs and skeleton leaves, creates a textile collection that feels calming and fun for the bedroom interior. Simultaneously, the textural effects from the pleating and woven shibori contrasting the density of the mock leno techniques create dynamic and decorative qualities that had subconsciously ended up mirroring the feeling of having a cluster of thoughts that roam in the mind. Thus, the designs visualise the ‘tired but wired’ phrase associated with insomniacs.