Ramie, Wool

Human – Hair – Fibre

Hair, constantly growing on our heads and bodies, exemplifies our connection to nature. The rise of goosebumps or a glance in the mirror reminds us that we are living, growing organisms. We share a close bond with our hair because it is part of us, yet it cannot fully protect us. For this, we rely on garments made from fibres derived from animals, plants, or synthetics. Human hair and natural fibres share similarities in colour, structure, and treatment. However, while we maintain a close relationship with our hair, the connection to fibres, textiles, and clothing has diminished over time. Once precious and valued, textiles have lost significance due to overproduction and overconsumption.
Across cultures, humans have built symbiotic relationships with animals, plants, and the environment. Extreme climates have often required people to adapt by observing animals, using their fleece for survival, and creating efficient, natural clothing.
A research document and needle-felting samples made from natural fibres informed the creation of an improvised garment from ramie and wool. The result is a wearable piece that retains its organic appearance and reveals its origin.

Making process

The foundation for this material was a roll of openly woven ramie fabric and natural merino wool roving. The 34 cm-wide ramie panel was cut into various lengths without waste. Hand-stitching connected the panels over the shoulders, while wool was needle-felted onto the fabric. This process allowed the garment to be moulded to the anatomical shape of the shoulder, back, and arm. For needle-felting, ramie was placed on a brush, and fibres were pushed through it using a tool with six barbed needles.
The fusion of ramie and wool created an organic surface with a gradient transitioning from fluffy, opaque areas to open, transparent woven sections. The same wool was hand-spun on a spinning wheel into a 2-ply yarn, which was used to hand-sew the side seams and sleeves into a flat T-form. The garment's hanging panels can be knotted in various ways, creating multiple shapes

Text submitted by the maker and edited by the Future Materials Bank. For information about reproducing (a part of) this text, please contact the maker.