Local yarn bombing

Local yarn bombing

I couldn't resist the chance of continuing where I left off with my last post on yarn bombing.  This time I am proudly inspired by South Africa.

Isabeau Joubert is an art director, designer, crocheter and blogger by day and a yarn bomber by night.  It is clear that she is a doer of many things based in Cape Town, South Africa.  Virgin Active approached Joubert to yarn bomb the city as part of their Leg warmer Love campaign.  The first yarn graffiti project was done outside the Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.  A grand total of 24 leg warmers was made and made a huge impression on passersby. 

YARN BOMBING

I recently came across this exquisite work and had to share my colourful energy about the existence of the art of yarn bombing.  Yarn bombing, yarnstorming and guerilla knitting is a type of street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than the obvious paint or chalk as seen in graffiti.  As I researched the new term recently added to my vocabulary, I came across some important key concepts that link directly with the term up-cycling.  It is said that yarn bombing began in Texas by knitters who wanted to creatively use the leftover bits and pieces from finished projects.  Yarn bombing was initially almost exclusively about reclaiming and personalizing sterile or cold public places.  It has since developed with groups graffiti knitting and crocheting worldwide.

These photos come from all over the world as the practice has gone global.

Up-cycling: a passing fad?

Most of us are aware of specific trends that come and go when observing happenings all around us.  It is clearly visible in everyday life when noticing the colours around us, specific fashion labels and textiles, even the products we interact with on a daily basis.  Could up-cycling be regarded as a trend which will eventually pass by and maybe return in yet another form some day?

Knowing that Dion Chang is a good trend analyst I quote some of the insights he revealed on this exact question.  Up-cycling is going to grow as the stronger trend against recycling due to its potentially lower carbon footprint and people will want to associate themselves more and more 
with it.

Up-cycling has it's own symbol now which is a green twisted 
arrow that points upwards.

Personally I am still struggling to wrap my head around the thought of up-cycling existing as a trend. People must become more aware of how finite our resources are and while remembering this why not explore some innovative ideas regarding up-cycling.

According to Chang South Africa is a very resourceful society so we almost have an advantage with regards to the up-cycling trend. A few local Up-cyclers include Heath Nash who has really made a mark in terms of eco-design and the other are the guys from Magpie who make huge chandeliers from literally garbage.

Stay inspired and wear confidence with consciousness!

Pardon the absence

I kept busy for some time now with an interesting take on project up-cycling.  This project include a dress made out of labels found on all kinds of garments, including my own and some of generous friends and family.  Evidently I became aware of the absence of the phrase made in South Africa, although I found a few that reads made in South Africa from imported fabric.

I was pleasantly surprised by the way in which this new garment - made from those annoying little pieces of fabric which you only read once if ever unsure about the specific washing instructions -  turned out.  

 

Be inspired by your surroundings and put some extraordinary textiles together and be sure of a pleasant surprise adding some winter warmness to the day.  

Hi all Up-cyclers!

Thought some personal inspiration for this week may get you excited for the upcoming game of high-tech treasure hunting.  I found this T-shirt in my closet and thought it could do with some nice up-cycling.  As we all know many ideas are often executed with trial and error.  Personally I experienced more error than trial, but I learned a lot.  So, here is a few tips for those of you who likes to try new ideas as they enter your head...

I chose a shocking lime greenish yellow colour, or so I thought, in order to compliment the colour of the T-shirt.  As I designed my pattern to be ironed onto the T-shirt I kept in mind the size and mirror placement of the design.

Here is some photographs to demonstrate the disastrous outcome of the initial idea.  On first sight it seems like a done and badly printed T-shirt, but on second thought there might be a more creative solution. I found some neon embroidery thread and start threading along the almost visible print.  This might not be the initial idea, but at least it's going to have a nice personal touch with a story to tell by the end of the year.

BEFORE

AFTER

!Remember to test the first attempt on another surface in order to ensure the success of the final garment.  Be sure to use a white surface fabric, T-shirt or piece of garment when making use of iron-on prints to ensure the correct outcome of the initial colour scheme.

Don't be afraid - colour will always involve a pleasant surprise!

Happy experimenting*

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BUYING NOTHING

Remember the urge of purchasing anything once you entered that specific air filled space with two railways of products starring at you through the window as you walk by?  It usually seduce you in a flirtatious inviting voice whispering: come and look closer, hold me and feel me.

The above mentioned is the primary motivation for this month's collaborative effort by Uptide and Flabbergast  to promote the idea about buying nothing.  This idea is used to make you aware about the quantity of items bought not for physical survival but to satisfy the need of buying.

This problem isn't identified without a solution.  You are encouraged to take part in the UP-CYCLE-A-T-SHIRT COMPETITION  as part of this month awareness regarding the buying issue.  Instead of receiving only the new item, you'll also be rewarded with a gift to yourself including new innovative and creative thoughts.

Remember to up-cycle and wear confidently and consciously!

 

Stay Inspired

I have recently traveled through a few provinces in South Africa and came to the conclusion that it is possible to find inspiration in any environment.  It doesn't matter if the inspiration exist in a different medium or outcome - what matters is the idea received from your surroundings.

My first stop was Cape Town from the 30th of March to the 1st of April in order to attend the Toffie Pop Culture Festival and Conference of 2012.  Most of the design teams were inspiring and brought innovative and creative ideas to the table - and sometimes also to the floor, but I must give credit to all the exhibitors.  The way in which they presented the variety of products, fashion items and food were truely unique.  Each of the above mentioned were regarded as a designer's item.

INSPIRATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY - by Simone Le Roux OF THE TOFFIE POP CULTURE FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE OF 2012

I found myself excited and inspired to take on new projects - especially using more textiles and developing my own up-cycling skills.  Covering simple objects, like buttons, garments and shoes with different colours and texture fabric.  Each idea hold the treasure of becoming a unique up-cycled fashion or style item.  For more inspiration and photography, please visit my Facebook page Uptide

Remember to stay inspired with confidence consciously!