Worn to Wear by Kira Tenk

BA Design student Kira Tenk presents a collection of garments that explores a visible appreciation for authentic worn value.

Denim is often processed to create a manufactured sense of character, using techniques like stonewashing and manual abrasion. In contrast, Worn to Wear considers authentic, worn value as something personal – with fading, fraying and tearing becoming markers of individuals’ experiences which are unique to that particular piece of clothing.

Sourcing denim that had been discarded due to ‘defects’ caused by wear, Kira did not attempt to repair the damage – the collection instead uses a range of textile techniques to highlight them and reframe these imperfections, transforming them into defining features which celebrate the garment’s history.

Kira’s interest in working with denim began on a placement in the summer of her second year with LaundRe - a specialist, sustainable start-up in Canning Town who operate the only denim laundry in the UK. Her experience there included learning washing techniques like how to remove indigo from jeans for a lighter colour, and finishing production such adding textures and designs to raw denim. “Working at LaundRe with so many passionate people originally opened my eyes to the world of denim,” she explained.

From a young age I’ve always felt quite overwhelmed by the overproduction and non-circular product lifecycle found in life today, so sustainability has always been at the forefront of my creativity.

Sustainability is central to the project. Kira found inspiration in Japanese culture, where there are renowned repair techniques which showcase beautiful craftsmanship. She also highlights that, in part as a result of fast fashion, a high volume of garments has already been produced and is in circulation which could already provide the coming generations with extensive wardrobes. She also points to issues with high fashion, where the pursuit of perfection leads to wasteful practices.

Working on this project allowed Kira to gain further insight into a subject she is passionate about – sustainability - but she also points out that the experience helped her to understand how she can directly respond to these issues.

I hope members of the audience can see a new type of value and start to consciously avoid the polluting habits the large fashion brands are advertising as normal.

Looking to the future, Kira has ambitions to pilot the entire collection under her brand name TENKIE and start selling pieces.