Ever and Again: Rethinking Recycled Textiles - 2005–2009

The TED research interests and Rebecca’s methodologies have recently come together in the ‘Ever & Again: Rethinking Recycled Textiles’ project, which is an AHRC funded venture (2005 – 2009). This three-year project has an AHRC Large Grant of £167,000 and involves 12 members of the TED team as well as supporting a full time PhD student. Rebecca is the Principal Investigator. This project aims to investigate textiles recycling, looking to the textile design practitioner to propose significant change through the creation of high quality artefacts. To achieve this aim a group of TED practitioners will examine and consider contemporary ecodesign theory, exploring ideas about long life / short life textiles, ethical production, new technologies, and systems and services. These concepts will be explored via an adapted action research methodology with cycles of team workshops and periods of personal reflection. Textiles will be created and a process of analysis and redesign will lead to a visual and written outcome.

The participating and guest artists and designers of the project include: Melanie Bowles, Rebecca Earley, Frances Geesin, Kate Goldsworthy, Kay Politowicz, Kathryn Round, Clara Vuletich, Natalie Chanin, Stephen Beresford, Fretex Redesign, Sue Ridge, and Caryn Simonson.

The Ever and Again project intends to have the following direct outcomes:
An exhibition of artefacts showing the textile forms created by all the participating designers (Triangle Gallery, London, 19 – 25 October 2007); a set of papers for presentation at a symposium, October 2008; and a chapter about textiles recycling, to be included in Rebecca’s Eco Textiles and Fashion book to be published by Laurence King (2009).