Zoë Daley
Textiles MA
Royal College of Art
Graduates: 2023
Specialisms: Textiles - Knit / Textiles: Fashion/Interiors / Sustainable Fashion/Textiles
My location: London, United Kingdom
Zoë Daley
First Name: Zoë
Last Name: Daley
University / College: Royal College of Art
Course / Program: Textiles MA
Graduates: 2023
Specialisms: Textiles - Knit / Textiles: Fashion/Interiors / Sustainable Fashion/Textiles
My Location: London, United Kingdom
About
I am a constructed textile designer, primarily working with knit techniques. Conscious, sustainable and responsible design is fundamental to my practice, as I aim to offer creative solutions to problems within the second most polluting industry in the world: fashion. The global under-utilisation of clothing will have a significant and lasting environmental impact if action is not taken and taken now. I have endeavoured to tackle this pressing issue through my modular clothing design work. I believe by changing the way knitwear and fashion is produced and moving beyond the restrictions of fully fashioned garments, there is potential to disrupt the current disposable and frivolous nature of fashion.
‘Hold dear to hand on’ is a modular project, bridging textile knit for fashion and collaborative practice. Within the modular approach of the work, our attachment to clothing is explored, proposing that we become the guardians of our garments as opposed to the owners. This transition from oppressive ownership to a caretaking role allows for a renewed passion and respect for textiles and the clothing we wear. The psychology behind collecting and our relationship with clothing leads the conceptual theory and design practice for the work, allowing for a nuanced and personal approach to modular design. The collection of modular panels shown have visited various garment guardians, allowing each to form their own unique and individual outfits. Working in collaboration with the guardians, the work becomes a study of the individual, with each guardian selecting the textiles they wish to use and fashioning their outfits themselves. Every composed outfit is celebrated and held dear before being disassembled and handed on, with each look captured in a distinctive way, led by the guardian themselves. The modular approach of the work aims to act as a disruption of current unsustainable fashion production and consumption methods. By separating garments into dynamic and versatile panels at the design phase, dwindling clothing utilisation can be tackled in a playful manner, as it ‘has decreased by 36% compared to 15 years ago’ (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017). By focusing on integrated circularity through flexible design, the modular method aims to reduce the approximate £140 million worth of clothing ending up in landfill every year (BFC, 2020). Changing the way knitwear is produced and moving beyond the restrictions of fully fashioned garments, there is potential to alter and adapt the current disposable and frivolous nature of fashion. Ultimately, the work within ‘hold dear to hand on’ aims to act as a catalyst for thought; reframing sustainable knitwear by reintroducing the personal into the process.
Competitions
