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.
Nature of the knit
“This jumper is maybe about eight years old? I’ve probably worn it more times than most of the other things I’ve had in that time. I love the combination of… different stitches and the knits… it looks like tailoring and it’s knitwear… the stitch looks like it could be a piece of woven fabric on the front and then the chunkier shoulder and neck, and then the really super chunky arms. Yes, I love the contrast and the combination of something that almost looks like a polar fleece and then something else that looks like a tailored jacket all in one.
This is almost the same as when I bought it… I mean, actually it’s funny because when I picked it up this morning to bring it, I did notice that there was some pulls on here and thought ‘ooh yeah, I should pull those back in’ but I hadn’t actually noticed them… and they’re not that noticeable and they’re things that, because of the nature of this part of the jumper… yeah, that’s the other thing. The parts of the jumper that’s changed and looks a bit worn: it’s fine. Whereas the more formal part of it, if it had been worn, it probably would have detracted from it in some way.”
London - December 2012
Photograph by
Tim Mitchell
