World of WearableArt Ltd
On Friday 27th September, I won a prestigious prize at The World of WearableArt Award Show.
The Sustainability Award for my piece Sgàthach the Singed. Go here to see close ups of my piece from all angles.
I was not expecting it at all, in fact, this year’s piece was created because with looming picture book deadlines, there was no way I could have finished my current WIP in time for submission. I made something as a diversion, that would take me less time and cost me almost nothing in materials (having blown my budget already on the other piece- destined for 2025).
Below is the story for my 2024 entry, and I surprised and delighted myself with the pattern making, something I struggle with, the accumulation of materials and the fun of making it. The plastic was very easy to sew and quite sturdy. I hit a roadblock the weekend before submission photos were due by slipping and breaking my right elbow. I had hoped for a sturdy cast so I could swing my arm about more, but apparently that’s not the done thing these days.
So, with my dominant arm in a sling, I was able to finish it in an inelegant manner, hand held close to my chest, and a friend sewed the last of the buttons on. I may live to regret using my arm before it was healed, but needs must, and I had my 29th entry in 29 years to get into show.
I did it and it received an award, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
I’m going for my big 30th next year. Dear God don’t let me break anything else except for a world record for perseverance. It remains true that I hold the record for WOW entries over the years. 2025 may be my last one and then I hope to travel to investigate fabrics, textiles and places of learning relevant to art costuming. I’m entering the next phase of my creative career, note to tertiary institutions, conferences and festivals; invite me with an air ticket attached and I’ll come!
I’m a multi-disciplinary artist and I can bring much to the speaking table.
Sgàthach the Singed
Come the apocalypse, those who have a good pair of scissors will rule the world.
The Gaelic warrior woman Sgàthach strides from the burning ashes. She saved her trusty atelier’s apron with its precious tools, a hand crank sewing machine and four pairs of scissors. Glorious 21st century fabrics have rotted into oblivion and all that remains is the ever-present plastic and a few rusted metals.
Constructing herself an outfit from discarded plastic shopping bags Sgàthach prepares to take on the broken world.
“Guid folk! Ah hae scissors, needles, an’ precious bits o’ salvaged threid. Come join ma army, an’ Ah’ll teach ye. Wi’ knowledge an’ skill comes power. Those unclothed’ll shiver in oor presence!”
My attic is full of those cheap woven plastic shopper bags, housing foam, fabric and all manner of things. Each day I pass the clothing bins near to where I live and see the same tartan and striped bags overflowing with discarded clothes, dumped next to the overflowing bins. How did our society become such consumers of such easily tossed away things? Can people really not be bothered to make do and mend, it being easier to buy cheap items online? This is not how my Scottish grandparents and ancestors lived, everything was scrutinised for further use and repurposed until it was only fit for the fireplace, and even then, burning, bought warmth.
The shopper bags seem to symbolise the wanton destruction of our planet through mass production and unsustainable materials, and the loss of craft and skills. How many people cannot even sew a button on, let alone own a needle and scissors, preferring instead to throw the garment out?
I’ve always said that come the apocalypse, those with a good pair of scissors will rule the world. I took these used and broken bags and created a set of garments for a strong maker from the future, inspired Sgàthach, a mythological Gaelic warrior woman who trained armies and resided in the Isle of Skye.
This entry is almost 100% recycled. The only thing I bought were the new boots for the health and safety of the model. They have been distressed to match the outfit. The salvaged apron is made from a ‘Little Black Dress’ scarf hanger popular some years ago, hanging in my attic. Each created pocket has items necessary to a maker, tape measure, pins, needles, buttons and carefully saved thread from the bags I took apart. I then cleaned the bags thoroughly before ageing them. I used a 1940’s pattern saved from an elderly friend’s collection to make the shorts and added ruffles for extra shape and created the jacket from an original pattern I designed and drafted myself. Every part of the deconstructed bags have been used in this creation- bindings from the seams, zips and the handles. I thought carefully about how an atelier would sew many garments in the future in a world without electricity. A hand crank machine was the answer, so my 1950’s Singer sewing machine case has been repurposed for this garment and when finished, will go back to the machine it came from. The changed brand from Singer to ‘Singed’ will remain. The scissors came from a woman who wanted to know if anyone would like her mother’s old collection ‘They need a bit of work’ she said. They were perfect.
My funniest moment:
On the lookout for a few more used bags than I had in my attic, I spotted 2 of them at a bus shelter next to the clothing bins on my morning walk but couldn’t bring myself to walk brazenly into it and nab them.
One day the shelter was empty and the bags just sitting there empty next to a scattered pile of clothes, so thought ‘I’ll get them and blow the consequences!’ Feeling more like a thief than a recycler, I strode purposefully into the shelter and at that moment a car squealed to a halt beside it and two men got out, they looked tough and I was a bit worried. ‘Are they plain clothed police?’ I thought.
‘I’m just getting these bags’ I said guiltily.
They ignored me, went to the pile of clothes, neatly folded them all up into a tidy pile, took them and hopped back into their car and drove off. The bus shelter was now tidy and everything was claimed. I folded my bags up stuffed them in my backpack and waltzed off, feeling good!
Materials: Plastic shopper bags, wooden machine case.