Part research, part education, part immersive experience and brand forecasting,
Hacking Couture opens up the possibilities to engage with closed design systems in order to create endless creative possibilities while acquiring tools to be empowered to collaborate and prototype new ideas.
Find photographs in ads, online and in books that describe the core ingredients of the brand. Classify your findings in visual summary (that’s the code, what is quintessential to the brand, what they can’t do without i.e Chanel without pearls is not Chanel. See template and some examples.
Use the code as inspiration for your creativity. Make something that expresses you. I like to make performances inspired by the brands I document. Don’t skip this part, making gives a new perspective to the process.
Take photographs of your creation and share online and/or share your knowledge in a DIY workshop. Be empower by the community. Gather materials (preferably recycled and that resemble the brand). Also tools like pen and paper, sewing machines, glue guns, needle, succors. Anything that will facilitate rapid prototyping.
Ask participant’s to model their own creation and photograph them. Share those pictures with the world. Empowerment is built on promoting our positive actions and taking pride on what we make with our hands.
Map the inspiration. Use the code to hack yourself.
Fashion for the masses x the masses.
Since 2006 Hacking Couture workshops has enable hundreds of participants to unleash their creativity by learning about open sourcing design, sharing ideas and developing and customizing their clothes regardless or their design knowledge.
The workshops have been held in New York City, San Francisco, Istanbul, San José (Costa Rica) and many more with participants raging from non-designer, fashion designers and computer engineers. It has also evolved into a teaching methodology used to teach students in how to develop their own creative design language within the constrains of a commercial brand or client. Academic institutions that have been part of the project include the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), Parsons School of Design (United States), New York University, Pratt Institute, Columbia College and Veritas University (Costa Rica) and organizations like Eyebeam Atelier, Lower East Side Girls Club, Maker Faire and many more conferences.
Customize your daily fashion performance:
Laser cut at home
your own DIY version
Become a Medusa in front of the mirror
and turn your fears into stones.
