Transfer of Ownership
Giving a garment to someone else is sometimes a straightforward and
spontaneous act. At other times a transfer of ownership is more
circuitous. Periods of overlapping ownership often intensify resource
use and stud a garment’s story with memories.
Grandmother's gifts
"I’ve brought three belts... This belt was from a friend… and this one… I don’t remember any more, but it maybe that this came either from my grandmother or from my neighbour. My grandmother always collects pieces of clothing from relatives and then my sister and I, we chose what we like. That belt is also from my grandmother, I think either from a cousin or from an acquaintance.
When I visit her, my grandmother she says sometimes, “Oh I’ve received some clothes. They’re over there in the other room. Go and choose something”. It’s different with friends. We see each other anyway and it might be that when we’re getting ready to go out or just get dressed they say “Oh, I’ve got this. I don’t want it any more. Do you want to have it?” and so forth, and that’s how I do it too. I can do that too. I’ve given away lots of my clothes. If we simply don’t wear them, then we swap them."
Berlin - July 2010
Photograph by
Stefan Rother
