The design research
Connecting to the senses through wearing, and engaging with, garments
Wearing clothing is a multidimensional sensory experience: the smell of damp wool, its heavy weight as it holds onto water and the darker colour it takes on all play a part in creating a sensory experience for its wearer. In fashion practices, the visual aspect of dress is often prioritised over the other senses, despite wearing clothing being a multisensory experience. (Dis)Embodied Garments is an exploration of crafting garments that weave opportunity for a broader sensory experience for the wearer, specifically for those who might prioritise other senses over visual.
The designs for the garment were created through collaboration with neurodivergent creatives. Participatory design workshops encouraged participants to take on the role of fashion designer to create a range of low-fidelity prototypes. These prototypes highlight a range of personal, individual experiences of the senses and how clothing can play a part of this experience of day-to-day life. These insights inspired and informed high-fidelity counterparts that grew into a collection of items; (Dis)Embodied Garments.
“design does not only result in form and function, it also results in feelings, affecting our state of wellbeing.”
KATIE GAUDION
The new practice
(Dis)Embodied Garments is a series of high-fidelity prototypes that reflect the ways in which clothing can connect with the senses. The title reflects that vast ways in which clothing can be used to connect or disconnect with the wearer, dependent on the participants individual experience, wants and needs.
Participants brought tacit knowledge and a creative perspective to garment making. Additionally, participants gave huge insight into the impact of clothing, and the need for wider sensory engagement through clothing. Brittany advocates for learning from a range of experiences through direct, meaningful and creative engagement of participants.
(Dis)Embodied Garments is a growing body of work that indicates what members of the neurodivergent community might want, need or benefit from, and is reflective of how more neuro-inclusive fashion practises might look and feel. It aims to inspire designers as to the breadth of design possibilities that can be made to create clothing that is meaningful, connective, and beneficial to the wearer.
Brittany has brought her research to the Willem de Kooning Academie students and Falmouth University Fashion Design students. She aims to keep advocating for designing with the senses through (fashion) education.
the designer
Brittany is a fashion designer and design researcher exploring the connection between clothing and wellbeing through engagement of the non-visual senses. Brittany holds a BA in Fashion Design from Falmouth University, UK and has worked in fashion design and product development roles.
Brittany advocates learning from, and designing for, bodily experience and hopes to highlight the huge breadth of ways that designers can create clothing that connects the body to the wearer through sensory engagement.
If you are interested in being a part of a workshop or would be interested in sharing these design values in an educational setting, please get in contact at brittanyethorpe[@]gmail[dot]com
