MOTHER ELIZABETH

Our landfills are growing and constantly expanding with post-consumer waste in the form of cheap fast fashion garments. One way to deal with this problem is to upcycle the discarded material into new things with a higher value. There is one type of material though, that has a tendency to be forgotten about. This material is baby garments. Mother Elizabeth investigates how these discarded garments can be upcycled into womenswear fashion. The title of this work reflects the two areas investigated, baby garments and the Elizabethan era. With an aim of broadening the perspective of what type of discarded material can be upcycled into womenswear fashion, the areas of investigation are combined. Throughout the study, methods for exploring garments from the Elizabethan era were applied in order to create a reference library used as a base when making design decisions. The outcomes presented in this work aim to inspire other designers to broaden their perspective on what type of material can be used when working with upcycling. In addition to stressing the importance of using discarded textiles, this project also showcases how history can be used as a tool to make sure there is a future