Layers of ripped paper form the cover to my publication.
ISTD 2017: ‘Fickle Fads and Dedicated Followers of Fashion’
Worn and Torn is a publication on the fashion fad of paper clothing. In 1962, paper clothing was originally designed as a convenient laundry solution for female astronauts, but was later worn as high trend fashion between 1966 and 1968. Paper clothing was favoured for its transitory traits; lightweight and disposable, paper clothing needn’t be washed but instead simply replaced by another clothing piece that you could carry around with you in your bag.
The Baby Boomers of the time were seeking for a new way to express themselves in order to rebel against the pressure of consumerism, and paper clothing did just that by existing as an unconventional item that didn’t fit in with the materialistic ideals nor rob people of their money. Paper clothing was affordable, biodegradable and interchangeable.
With paper clothing being such a disposable item, nonetheless there were many disadvantages that came with it. On a number of occasions, paper clothes proved to be flammable, when it had originally been thought that they were fire resistant. They would disintegrate when in contact with water, and was noted as a generally uncomfortable material to wear. I focussed on the implication of paper fashion to demonstrate why the trend of paper garments became a fad and not a long lived fashion.
Worn and Torn expresses the frail nature of paper clothing when used. Throughout, I have hand manipulated printed type and the pages of the publication to enact how various lifestyle factors affected paper fashion.
Introduction page.
'I like it until I put it on. I was walking down the street and it began to disintegrate.'
'I thought I looked great until it rained.'
'I was found that they were just plain uncomfortable.'
'Toughness is woven into the non-woven fabric for long wear.'
'The answer to laundry in outer space.'
'Requires little maintenance and can be ironed by ironing inside out on a cool
setting.'
'Keep away from fire.'
'You couldn't really clean it. You had to snip off the dirty parts.'
'A slightly bumpy surface resembling paper towelling.'
