The following is a collection of T-shirt experiments and concepts developed for a screen-printing focused unit at Curtin University:
Design 1:
BOIBOI by YOU is a curated DIY experience for the consumer. I have long been interested in fashion as a collaboration between the designer (who creates the garment) and the consumer (whoever buys the garment, wears it, and how they style it). This kit would put even more control into the hands of the consumer, as the brand provides the graphic content but allows the user to select and curate said graphics how they see fit. The outcome is a truly collaborative experience, as well as a garment the owner can wear proudly and tout it as ‘made by their own hand’.
Design 2:
This garment explores the idea of stitching additional items onto the basic T-shirt. There seems to be some strange adhesion to the rule that once a T-shirt has its hems, seams and ribbing attached, the only customization option is through print. Why couldn’t an old T-shirt be revitalised through a fresh and modern design which can easily be sewn on by the user? Patches like these could be sold piece-meal directly to the consumer as an alternative to throwing out a perfectly fine T-shirt for having an ugly graphic on the chest.
Design 3/4:
The patch series is intended to look to the future through the lens of sustainability. T-shirts are inherently terrible for the environment, but are also one of the most stylistically accessible garments for the average wearer, myself included. To combat this, what if we just had one t-shirt to rule them all. Through the substitution of patches, the consumer would only need to buy one of whatever colour t-shirt to achieve many styles and graphic details. Substituting the materials for a more advance (possibly future) fabric which breathes well and mitigates smell, this one-for-all approach could save us a lot of fabric, water, and dye waste.
