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

Patina of Use

With our garments, as with our bodies, the passing of time leaves its mark. Our relationship with these imprints is complex in both domains. With clothes, we sometimes discard pieces because they are ageing, dated, jaded or worn; at other times we buy vintage or pre-distressed pieces, coveting that which looks old. Yet these both overlook the power and pleasure of marking the passing of time as it is recorded in our clothes; the forging of memories, building of knowledge, evolution of appearance.

Repairing denim

"Every pair of jeans I ever have wears out in the crotch where my legs rub together and so I’ve just, like, stitched them back together almost like, making the threads be like the fabric and… And they fit, they fit obviously well so I don’t want to give them up. I hate shopping for jeans."

London - January 2010
Photograph by Sean Michael

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