Plasticity explores our relationship with the man-made substance that was once strongly associated with progress and is now held responsible for major environmental damage. Transparent plastics have often been used in fashion to communicate futurism (Borelli-Persson 2019), ironic considering the future of plastics is in doubt. In nature, plasticity describes how organisms have the ability to adapt, changing their form and function (Skipper et al 2010), to fit into a harsh and challenging world. This collection reflects on the idea that while manmade development and progress is exciting, it comes at a cost and is creating overwhelming challenges, particularly in the form of climate change. Just like insects that have adapted of hundreds of thousands of years to changing elements, it is essential that we learn to adjust to new conditions in order to survive and likewise, the use of plastics also needs to adapt and change as we move forwards. With more than 50% of textiles containing some form of plastic, the urgent search is on for a more sustainable way to clothe the world (Usborne 2019). Plasticity explores the use of recycled and repurposed plastics to create beautiful feminine garments, as well as the use of bioplastics, as a way of redefining the use of plastics within the modern world.
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