The world on fire pieces were created as part of the year long Fibershed Design Challenge. Fibershed develops regional fiber systems that build soil and protect the health of our biosphere. Their Design Challenge encouraged designers to connect process and products with the farmers, people, and land in our region, while also looking at how our design choices can embed longevity, zero waste design, compostability, and respect for the soil. They are made from regionally produced materials, are fully compostable, and utilize low waste design.

Both of these pieces are examples of circular design, and are inspired by climate anxiety, grief, and hope.

The sweater is a data representation of the world on fire. The embroidery is a graph of temperature anomalies from 1948 – 2023 in 5 year increments, sourced from NOAA. At first the data reads as an abstract pattern, however 2023 was such a departure that visually it appears like an accident. This intentionally highlights the uncharted territory we are quickly entering on a rapidly warming planet.

The dress is a visual representation of the world on fire. Black created from biochar fades into fire engulfing the green of the forest, finally fading to a clear blue sky. The hood can be put up to allow the wearer to hide from the reality upon us in grief and fear, or put down to look out in hope and action. Both feelings are natural reactions to the uncertainties ahead, often experienced simultaneously.

These projects were a wonderful learning experience. Not only did a get a crash course into using natural dyes and pigments which has been on my list for some time, but I learned about our regional fiber systems and what initiatives are underway to reconnect them in California.