Clothing for Climate Change, 2023
Bachelor Graduation Project
ADC Talent Award 2024: Silver
Concept, Design & Production: Freya Mathilda Tiarks
Model: Friederike Wurlitzer
Photography: Sebastian Kind & Freya Mathilda Tiarks
Supervisors: Patricia Hepp and Prof. Erich Schöls
The challenges of Climate Change and its consequences for people in Germany and their health are being addressed by the development of three life-size prototypes – Schutzhüllen (german: protective shells). The aim of these protective shells is to draw the viewer's attention to the effects of Climate Change in Germany through provocative design.
Clothing for Climate Change focuses on the topics of flooding, drought and heat.
The clothing was designed and sewn from conventional fabrics. The functionality of these garments is emphasised using icons and an alarming design. The design is provocative, raises curiosity and is therefore hardly intended as market-relevant clothing.
The three Schutzhüllen are referred to as SH1, SH2 and SH3. The names are inspired by the names of the climate scenarios, which are abbreviated to SSP (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways). The abbreviated form of the name gives the garments a research character and thus reinforces the concept. These protective shells each deal with a consequence of Climate Change and show possible solutions for present and future life on earth with a rapidly changing climate.
The first outfit deals with the scarcity of drinking water, the second with flooding, while the third outfit deals with the topic of heat.
As the co-operation of humans is an important part of limiting climate impacts and dealing with these impacts, each protective shell has an aspect of togetherness.
Every day, people make a decision about how they want to present themselves. How they want to feel. In what clothes do I feel comfortable? What clothes make me feel confident? It is a privilege to be able to ask these questions at all. Clothing is a luxury. Not everyone has access to clothing. The consequences of Climate Change hit people living in poverty in developing countries the hardest, even though they have hardly contributed to the crisis.
At the same time, due to their low income, they have the fewest opportunities to protect themselves from the effects of Climate Change through clothing. The concept of the CfCC shop was developed during the realisation of the project and addresses the issue of Climate Justice.