This Master's thesis examines the practice of handicraft within fashion design, focusing on its meditative qualities. By adopting a practice-led artistic research with autoethnography as its primary methodology, the study aims to reveal the personal experiences and reflections of engaging in handicraft as a creative practice.
The necessity for this study stems from the negative effects of fast fashion on the practitioners, associated with demanding timelines and ever-changing trends. The emphasis on quantity and neglect of healthy rou-tines can lead to high levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout, compromising mental well-being of the practitioners. Embracing slow fashion practices and mindful design processes may promote creativity and well-being. My personal struggles with mental issues while practicing fashion design further emphasize my need to answer the question: “How can handicraft enhance well-being in fashion design practice?”
The thesis consists of two parts: a written component and a productive component. Through the literature review on the healing agencies of handicraft, the written component investigates how needlework can provide a meditative state of mind, tranquility, concentration, self-awareness, and self-reflection. Through my individual experiences, the study examines the connections between craft, creativity, and the inner state of being. It explores the transformative potential of engaging in needlework, highlighting the interplay between the tactile act of crafting and its impact on the mind. By relying on textual and photographic logs and observations, I reflect on my own experiences of engaging in needlework by documenting personal narratives.
The productive part of the thesis centers in the meditative fashion approach highlighting its healing processes. By interlacing aluminum wire and jute threads, I produce handwoven pieces, that represent the combination of meditative qualities of needlework and artistic expression. Relying on my personal tactile experiences and intuitive design processes, I create a collection of fashion objects that come together to form a single ensemble. The primary context in which I engage in my needlework is the tranquility of the forest, that serves both as a source of additional calmness as well as an inspiration during my creative process. Consequently, the single outfit, comprising a bodice, a hat, a purse, and a pair of sandals, all sharing the same needlework technique, materials, and color, serves as a practical outcome of this research, showcasing the ability to translate the meditative experiences into tangible garments.
The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the transformative potential of needlework in fashion design. Furthermore, the study offers a framework for design practitioners to engage in meditative handicraft practice. By shedding light on the meditative qualities embedded within this creative practice, the study offers new paths for artistic expression and holistic well-being within the realm of fashion design.
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