An international fashion research project exploring the 'craft of use'

Intensive Use

Some garments are worn almost daily. They become both a backdrop to - and practical facilitator of - our lives and reflect true resourcefulness. Their features speak of an ethic of extended iterative use.

Nothing for everything

"I brought this shirt. The story is that it’s… nothing. It’s the item I bought among other items one day where I started a job and I needed just some new shirts so you know be clean and nice and [which would] not be too much work. So it’s just pulling down several things [in the shop] and this I thought, “ahhhh, I don’t know if I’m going to use it.” But the thing is it’s so basic that I can use it for everything… and I end up using it for parties, for giving a speech because I sweat so I want something that’s really light. So my main thing is it’s so practical and it’s like a nothing thing so I can pop it up, I can pop it down. If I was to do was to do something, I’d make another one like this… I would consider having pockets which I really like, like just for mobile or for the key going from one place or another… But I mean it’s also the thickness of the material that’s it’s light like I’m saying if I’m giving a speech or something I need something I can really get hot when I get into it and it doesn’t show the sweat. I needed a practical thing and I hit it, I really nailed it. If I should change [it]… this is really not nice (she rolls up the hem) but I’ve always put up with it."

Kolding, Denmark - September 2012
Photograph by Jens Christian