Fertile Wear – Underwear in relation to manufacturing toxicity, the ecosphere and our reproductive zone

Within this project, I as a designer have taken on the task of unfolding the hidden truths about the garment industry’s impact on our species lives, bodies, fertility, culture and ecosystems. I have been hosting workshops, mindmapping, ideating, experimenting, taking material samples, collecting data, making surveys and interviewing people.

As I found out, the task could be solved by creating a fertile friendly and locally sourced underwear, from fibers to finished garment, together with local citizens, companies, farmers, designers and craftspeople.

This way of designing is part of an emerging practice and not common in our world of consumption. On the other hand, the Fertile Wear exists, so how could I bring this design further into the future?

Due to consumers’ curiosity and care for the environment and the increasing concerns regarding climate change, this way of creating artefacts is becoming more popular.

I want to encourage my readers and all interested in the Fertile Wear to start supporting their local makers and craftspeople. If this were to be done, many of the harming aspects of the textile industry would cease to exist. We should take old knowledge and traditions and morph them with shapes that can be found on the global market. By doing so, users would feel more encouraged to interact and use artefacts that are crafted on a local level.

That is why I want to involve my future users in the making, because they are the only ones that can truly tell me what they need. In this, I also get the chance of letting the user in on the making, and they can first handedly see the care that goes into the Fertile Wear, and this in return generates value.

For the future, this way of designing and making artefacts could branch out and become part of the community at large. The way of making together with and for the community is the key to change the needs for people. And the value added is vital in order for us to once more understand what an important role textiles possess in our lives and to our species existence.

With this said, do you want to change the garment industry or collaborate in the field of textiles? Contact me and we’ll see what we can do about it!