In the thesis titled The Idea of Reism in a Sustainable Clothing Collection, I describe the development
and execution of a collection that emerges from the concept of reism and finds expression in garments
through a visual representation of the dynamics of their aura, where these garments are viewed as
carriers of the stories of our lives.
In the theoretical part, I first delved into the history of consumerism and the transformation of humans
into consumers. I continued with a study of the fast and ultra-fast fashion industry, which has
witnessed significant advancements in mass production during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
This has accelerated the cycle of rapidly changing fashion trends, consumption patterns, and the
devaluation of textile products. As a counterpoint to the excessive clothing consumption, I explored
Slovenian art movement OHO, which, in its early stages, criticized human superiority in the world
through the idea of reism and attempts at holistic art. I then expanded the idea of reistic worldview
by researching Walter Benjamin's concept of aura, which emphasized the uniqueness of original
artworks and the irreplaceability of a specific element of these works, their quintessence, which is
expressed in their aura. Furthermore, Benjamin's descriptions of sensing the aura in nature and its
relation to humans served as the basis for visual inspiration, which I found in the photographic
landscapes of Franco Fontana and the sculptures of Jean Hans Arp.
In the practical part of the thesis, I presented the development of the collection using techniques of
upcycling old garments, crocheting, use of my great-grandmother’s last crochet works and found
textile materials of old Slovenian factories. Starting with textile experiments I created threedimensional shapes which I then incorporated into several different silhouettes. The colour palette for
the collection comes from Fontana’s landscapes and connects with the found textile materials. The
development of seven silhouettes is depicted through collages, sketches, prototypes and technical
drawings. Finally, the collection is presented in the fashion editorial expressing the aura of the
garments and their relation to the body and nature surrounding it.
The final result is a sustainable collection intended to encourage the reestablishment of a respectful
relationship between humans and clothing. Through sustainable principles and the use of vintage
materials, it expresses the story of each clothing item. Through colours and shapes, it presents
clothing as the primary and most intimate space in which we move through time and space for the
majority of our lives.
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