Strands of Repair: Textile Treasures as Sustainable Pathways to Reconnect with the Lost Past

Authors

Sareekah Agarwaal, National Institute of Fashion Technology DelhiFollow
Ruby Kashyap Sood, National Institute of Fashion Technology DelhiFollow

Date of this Version

2024

Document Type

Presentation

Citation

Textile Society of America 2024 Symposium

Shifts & Strands: Rethinking the Possibilities and Potentials of Textiles, November 12-17, 2024, a virtual event

Comments

Published by the Textiles Society of America

Copyright 2024, the author. Used by permission

Abstract

Textiles, fundamental to all human experiences, are meaning-laden objects that possess a remarkable ability to evoke emotions and memories, serving as powerful mnemonic devices.

Almost everyone experiences unplanned encounters with textiles in their lifetime and in different contexts. Hence, most every piece is loaded with personal, cultural, or historical data, fostering a deep emotional connection between the owner and the object. Consequently, these textiles are cared for, preserved, and often repurposed. But not much literature exists on how textiles and their stories can be used to augment the understanding of the identity of an individual, a group, a region, or a country.

This research contends that by acknowledging and documenting the emotional connection between owners and their textiles, innovative sustainable design methodologies can be developed that honour both personal identity and objects, thereby reducing the likelihood of object obsolescence and material waste. Furthermore, in an era where relationships are often fleeting, boundaries are becoming blurred, and cultures are mixing, these textiles can act as connecting pathways to link all generations and bring together all ages across all cultures.

This article delves into the personal stories of three individuals and their cherished textiles, collected through primary interviews. The oral histories offer insights into the significance of these material possessions in their lives. It also sheds light on how the emotions evoked by recollecting, retelling, and revisiting these memories add unexpected layers of meaning to their prized possessions, thereby enriching our understanding of the complex interplay between memory, emotion, and material culture.