FAST TRASHION
2019
Fashion and waste produced in under a minute.
“Sipping from this coffee cup; savouring the intertwining sweetness & bitterness. Realizing that this beverage I drink everyday from wherever produced by whoever could be the footprint I’m leaving on this planet.” (Merujey, 2019)
It took about two minutes to enjoy our cup of coffee, which makes you wonder: “What happens to the cup now? Where does it go? Is it really recyclable? What do the labels really mean?” In just under two minutes, two cups were used once, now imagine twenty people drinking their coffee in a span of an hour. Inspired by past experiences and the artist Marina Debris — during Project Week at Hanzehogeschool’s Minerva Academy it is with the intention to translate the word play of “trash” and “fashion” into a showcase (re-)introducing TRASHION.
The purpose of TRASHION is to use thrown-out, found and repurposed materials and make them into fashion garments, jewelry, accessories and most importantly, art.
OVERVIEW
As Peter Smith has stated before: "If we start to believe that the little things we do are of an essential importance, then we are leading toward a bright future." and it goes without mentioning that large industries could contribute greatly to the environment with seemingly small initiatives and actions.
SPECIFICATIONS
One of these is the flourishing international business that is the coffee industry, producing a beverage consumed by many worldwide. However, as coffee production expands, it tends to involve intensive and unsustainable practices in which the exploited soils are being exhausted until it leads to infertility. Moreover, farmers are susceptible in the industry, as cultivation is their means of livelihoods. The coffee industry poses challenges varying from the CO2 emissions, to the erosion of the soil and exacerbation of the water crisis worldwide. These challenges starting from the cultivation of the bean until the production of the coffee cup.
GOALS
Raising environmental awareness concerning the coffee industry in an attention grabbing showcase. Inspired by past experiences and the artist, Marina Debris, (re-)introducing: Trash fashion, TRASHION.
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“I LOVED ARUBA TOO “
2017
The deforestation of Aruba's natural land has caused irreversible damage to it’s beautiful flora and fauna, because of this many animals have lost their habitat. This fueled my inspiration for the bird skeleton painting incorporated into the garment.
Inspiration:
I’ve witnessed a warawara, a bird that is native to the island but is rarely seen as often as I used to, standing on what was once his home, but is now nothing but a pile of rocks.
Materials:
old T-shirt, fabric, paint and black marker.
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TANGO SKIRT
Visual Collection 2017
I had the privilege to design a skirt for one of the dancers who performed at the Aruba Fine Arts & Design convention in 2017.
My inspiration came in the form of leaf prints and the colors blue and white, the colors of the Argentina flag.
Materials:
white and off-white, fabric, blue and white and acrylic paint.
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