TRADITIONAL INUIT CLOTHING RESEARCH PROJECT
03–05/2024‘ᑐᙵᓱ’ SOUNDSCAPE
05/2024
A research project which stemmed from the topic of ‘exploitative productivity’. ‘ᑐᙵᓱ’, Inuktitut for ‘welcome’, is a research project where I explored stark contrasts between mainstream clothing and traditional Inuit clothing to evaluate how our modern economy exploits and neglects the art of fashion in the name of productivity. I wanted to understand and convey the importance and impact of intention when it comes to clothing design and production. The Soundscape ‘ᑐᙵᓱ’ was performed on Mushroom Radio on the 17th of May at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague.
‘Reflection’ from design research journal:
Throughout my research process into the Inuit way of creating clothing, I’ve uncovered many differences and parallels between the nature of traditionally-made clothing and modern, factory-produced clothing. Be it good or bad, my findings have demonstrated the idea that ‘intention’ is ultimately what dictates the physical outcome as well as meaning of a garment. For example, the Inuit people made clothing with the pure intention of designing and constructing garments that were weather-proof and adequate representations of their cultural identity, their garments weren’t made to be sold, but rather, made as a gift to eachother—in addition to being a commemoration of nature’s gift and protection. On the other hand, mass-clothing campanies often produce clothing with the intention of making good business and publicity, which would drive such companies to neglect the quality of their clothing in order to support their money-making ventures.
In the end, although my project may seem to be about making of clothing, it has actually become more about the intention or atmosphere behind the making of clothing—as it is this that influences the design of the garment and the way we treat the garment-making process.
I wanted to use the making of clothing as a way of displaying my initial understanding of this ‘fashion as art vs. fashion as business’ topic, but ended up constructing a soundscape which performs the atmosphere of the clothes-making process from both a traditional Inuit approach to the moern mass-production approach, which I believe to be a more fitting depiciton of my research findings and conclusion.
“ᑕᑯᓇᓵᕐᓇᑯᓂ”
(”LONG TIME NO SEE”) A2 POSTER
03/2024
“ᑕᑯᓇᓵᕐᓇᑯᓂ” is a research poster displaying my visual exploration into the style, appearance, technique behind the making and wearing of native Inuit garments. Below is another A2 research poster that I made about the same topic—untitled.