Re-enchanting fashion: an ecocentric approach

The contemporary disconnect between people and their garments, is symbolic of a greater malaise; the loss of connection between humans and the environment. The loss of connection leaves us vulnerable to the seduction of endless fashion possibilities with limited meaning and maximum environmental impact. As we are framed within the Anthropocene age, where our activities influence the earth system, we are bound to comprehend the nature of our relationship to the natural systems.<br><br>Our creative working lives influence the earth's ecosystems and the environment requires attention, consideration and refection for natural world to be embedded within practice. Rather than positioning 'Nature' as something external to our everyday work, it is part of the environment that we live and participate in (Mathews, 2005). We are embodied and perceiving subjects and for Merleau-Ponty, 'the body is part of the fabric of the world.' Our design practices are embodied and we are intertwined with human and non-human ecosystems and the cosmological cycles.<br><br>This research investigates the notion of taking an 'ecocentric' (Merchant 1992) approach in our design work; as one that is based in the 'cosmos.' It will include the project-based Spiritus Loci project, which combined elements of ritual, place-specific narrative and neo-crafting structures.<br><br>When we experience the intrinsic value of the whole environment (Merchant, 1992) we include the space for 'self-enhancement' together with the potential of cloth (Schneider, 2006) in a manner of crafting meaningful objects (Walker 2011). In looking to nature for creative nourishment rather than the industrial essence of the modernist spirit, then we deny fashion's 'immanent death' (Lehmann, 2000) and make it a life-affirming process.