BIRDS OF STATIC
What I have come to believe is that being sustainable means creating a system in which we don’t just ‘take less,’ but one in which we actually give back. In the summer of 24, I stumbled across a study done in China. Two sensors were put on the knee cap, one on the top and bottom, where the skin contorted the most. They created wearable energy harvesters. This is Kinetic energy. To me this finding begged the question, what if fashion designers and scientists join forces? Using traditional sewing and applique techniques alongside new discoveries?
I transitioned this exploration into the modularity of bird feathers, the way they overlap, shift, and respond to air and motion, as a blueprint for garments that generate energy through movement. By mimicking their structure, I can introduce more points of articulation on the human body, increasing opportunities for kinetic energy harvesting. This design approach deepens the dialogue between biology and technology, allowing fashion to function as both expression and generator.
ABOUT THE PIECES
This collection was created during my time as a student at Pratt Institue. The documented process (click below) represents a semester of work from my junior year. Descriptions of each pieces and how they fit into the ethos of the collection are located in the style catalogue. These peices are available on request for styling or events (click above).