by Jacqueline Lefferts
Jacqueline Lefferts
Studio T:W:O was founded during my Master’s degree at the Royal College of Art. Studio T:W:O is about progressing process and mentality in the design industry through collaborations and individual projects, while also educating and encaging the consumer. Rather than weaving flat pieces of fabric my objective is To Weave Objects that are made through one process. This is possible with standard weaving equipment and a deep understanding of woven structure. I take inspiration from the technical textile industry, who specialise in 3 dimensional woven textiles. Typically, these textiles are made for components in the automotive industry and hidden within machines and vehicles. I work in an investigative manner dedicating my research to engineered textiles and giving new applications to existing techniques.
T:W:O educates and encages the consumer through branding and consumer customisation. As a logo, T:W:O, connects consumers to raw materials by making their origin more tangible, showing that even synthetics come from Earth, using labels as a tool, rather than a way to evoke status. Products are designed with inter changeable components which allows choice from the buyer and replacement of broken parts.
The objective of my work is to challenge and resolve issues concerning sustainability, ethics and manufacturing within the textile industry. I propose to do this by changing the way fabric and products are manufactured separately and fuse the two processes into one by utilising current technologies and a new approach to production. My projects suggest new approaches to designing for, and manufacturing with, existing technologies. This challenges cultural perspectives on sustainability and mass production, making sustainable manufacturing truly impactful. It is not suggesting a radical change of equipment or materials, but simply a more considered way of designing and making. Projects under the T:W:O umbrella aim to improve the fashion and textiles industry by reducing material waste, a product’s carbon footprint and have the potential to greatly reduce sweatshops. I aim to weave and design with intellect and purpose.