Feb 14, 2018
In episode 101, Kestrel welcomes trailblazing print textile designer Becky Earley to the show. A designer, researcher, educator and facilitator for circular textiles, Becky is also a key part of the research consortium work for Mistra Future Fashion, as well as the UE Horizon 2020 project Trash2Cash.
"The job and role of the designer is changing radically -
you're not just bringing a product to the shop floor anymore - you
have to know so much more now about what will happen
next."
-Becky Earley, Circular Design Expert
In this episode, Becky takes us back to some of the history and evolution of her work, including her early "upcycling" projects before the word had even been established. She highlights how she believes the designer plays a unique role moving into the future and how circular design concepts are part of that shift.
Additionally, Becky shares thoughts on how moving forward, she anticipates that the user will have more control and knowledge around the speed of the things in their wardrobe. So, not only will brands ask people to bring things back to the store when they're sick of them, but products will actually be created to move at different speeds in your wardrobe. As Becky says, there will be a need for fast and slow fashion in the future.
The below thoughts, ideas + organizations were brought up in this chat:
- TED (Textiles, Environment, Design): group at Chelsea University that became the origins of what is now considered, the Centre for Circular Design
- Textiles Future Research Centre
- Centre For Circular Design, website coming soon
- Trash2Cash, the EU Horizon 2020 project
- Mistra Future Fashion, research for systemic change in fashion
- Filippa K, a brand that Becky is working on a project for through Mistra Future Fashion
- Textile Toolbox, TED’s web platform project for MISTRA Future Fashion
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Dutch Design Week, where Becky's team for Trash2Cash will be presenting their final prototypes
- Innovations in recycling waste paper into new cellulosic fiber at Aalto University in Finland