A new exhibition brings together innovative research, heritage, and digital technology to explore the evolving narratives of sustainable fashion. By combining academic inquiry, fashion tech, contemporary designers, and archival material, Wearing Sustainability raises timely questions around innovation, value, and responsibility in fashion.
Curated and Art Directed by Cunnington & Sanderson in collaboration with Dr Anja Connor-Crabb School of Design, University of Leeds, Elain Evans Yorkshire Fashion Archive, and alexandra Moslova Digital Fashion Platform Seamm.
Visitors are invited into a storytelling surreal space occupied by inquisitive mannequins and interactive activities. Weaving the historical threads together with advanced technology, this remarkable exhibit highlights the question of how a garment’s untold stories can beneficially influence the future of sustainability in fashion.
Cunnington & Sanderson founded in 2012 are proud to tell the stories of some of their sustainable creations in this exhibition. All of the garments worn by the mannequins visiting the exhibit exude Innovation, creativity and sustainability.
Redress. the interactive outfit by Cunnington & Sanderson invites visitors to contribute to correcting the wrong of wasted fabric. Connecting and tying deadstock fabric onto the evolving and interchangeable outfit, the enjoyable process highlights how fabric can be reused and recycled. This storytelling and innovative outfit can be untied and retied in many variations to inspire creativity and sustainability in fashion design, working independently or with others. Every visitor can create their own unique sustainable fashion masterpiece. Fabric sponsored by Linton Tweeds, Cunnington & Sanderson & the School of Design Fashion Design students.
The Pillow Narrative. Creatives located around the world are invited by Cunnington & Sanderson to create an emotive story with a pillow tshirt, including Mexico, South Africa, Milan, Paris and Yorkshire. Artist, singers, photographers, stylists, dancers, and creatives have kindly taken part to talk about emotions and raise mental health awareness. This unisex, organic, and heartfelt garment has inspired the imagination of many, creating a positive community that continuously provides comfort and support to others. This thoughtful project has proudly raised money for charities including Mind, The Samaritans and the Mental Health Foundation. Everyone can be a part of the story by talking about emotions. #pillownarrative.
The Gown of Care. Cover image. This innovative gown by Cunnington & Sanderson has been exhibited at the Royal College of Nursing in London and Edinburgh, Nottingham Trent University, and the Three Counties Medical School in Worcester. This highly emotive gown was made in collaboration with PPE_Refashioned to highlight the need for circularity in fashion, to improve the wearability of PPE, and improve the garments sustainability to reuse and recycle the gowns and prevent them from going to landfill. Made with 12 used and discarded PPE medical gowns, this conceptual zero waste gown represents the emotions of care, dedication and unity of the NHS. Firstly Cunnington & Sanderson learnt to understand the gown’s fabric structure, how it felt, draped, moved and their positioning on the body. The design highlights the RFID laundry tags evidencing up to 75 washes at 70C, which symbolises the end of cycle. The fabric creases with pressure and instant texture is added which becomes embodied within the gown’s history, keeping the unmiserable marks and stains visible, show the hidden truths. Creating a high fashion garment that quite literally has been imprinted by the wearer.
The Aprons. A garment inspired by draping multiple aprons together. Made with organic twill cotton this sustainably focussed design is totally zero waste, with 0% fabric cut off or wasted in the making process. (worn by seated mannequin) This creative garment is made with no studs or zip fastenings, which improves the garments recycling cycle. This garment is available in multiple sizes.
Double Denim. Made from two pairs of pre-loved denim jeans that have been recycled and reimaginedin a one-of-a-kind, unisex garment. Cunnington & Sanderson hope that this innovative garment will inspire others to see the creative possibilities of upcycling clothes, and the magic of making wearable pieces that are unique and can be made to suit the individual.
ZERO Dress is a prime example of wearing sustainability. The educational graphic print dress is an innovative and sustainable zero waste design. Made and printed in England with eco-friendly pigment printing and environmentally friendly techniques, including no wasted water and low energy use.
The ZERO Dress is also connected to a Smart Digital Product Passport (DPP) – an interactive page that reveals the story behind the garment: its materials, its journey, and its environmental impact.
Using Augmented Reality (AR) experiences powered by SEAMM, visitors can digitally ‘try on’ reanimated historical garments and contemporary pieces, seeing them brought to life in ways once unimaginable. Simply by scanning a QR code with their mobile phone, people can select items from Yorkshire Fashion Archive including a gold Jean Muir Jacket and a hand knitted pullover from 1948, which are highly protected and otherwise unwearable. The chosen garment instantaneously appears on the person’s body, as though being worn. Also, on display a selection of high fashion phygital wear by contemporary fashion brand Cunnington & Sanderson, which can be purchased both physically and digitally, to wear in this world and other metaverses such as Minecraft and Roblox. Through the brands app these digital wearables can also be customized with color and patterns.
Through interactive focus groups and surveys, Wearing Sustainability also invites the public to help shape a future research project on sustainable innovation in fashion – making this not just an exhibition, bit a hub for industry-wide change.