Worn Words -
slow paper against fast fashion

Spring 2024

 Currently on show at Foundation We Are - Fresh Grounds exhibition
till 14th of September 2025

Step into a world where old garments are transformed into a call to action, inviting you to reflect on the fast fashion industry. ‘Worn Words’ is an interactive installation that guides visitors through the meticulous process of papermaking. This paper, created from discarded clothes, becomes the stationary for letters addressed to fast fashion brands, urging their transparency on and responsibility for the consequences of overproduction.

 Special thanks to
The Or Foundation
Constant van Renessefonds
Studio Stins
Grafisch Atelier Hilversum

About FASHIONCLASH:

The long table displays the entire production process from old rags to typewritten letter. Starting with washed out Nike shirt participants will shred, blend, scoop, press, dry, type and fold into an envelope. On the far right a mailbox awaits participants’ handmade post, containing their worn clothes and written words of grievances against the fast fashion industry.
This installation is not just an artistic endeavour but a call to action, highlighting the contrast between the time-consuming craft of papermaking and the rapid, disposable nature of fast fashion. It aims to engage consumers and brands alike, fostering a collective effort towards change.
Aligned with The Or Foundation, a Ghana-based activist non-profit organisation on their #SpeakVolumes campaign. Their campaign pushes brands to disclose their production volumes. This data impacts everyone along the value chain. Its unavailability and thus lack of transparency allows the industry to cover up its human rights infractions and prohibits meaningful change.
Together, we can weave a narrative of transparency, one letter at a time.