Human hair is both the material and the wider concept of this project. Hair grows approximately 1.5 centimetres per month, we shed it without thought. It is the trace we leave without trying, an unintentional legacy that is quietly, persistently human. As it grows, hair embeds a chronological map of where a person has been, and what they have been exposed to. Through isotope and cortisol analysis, the strand becomes a timeline of a personal journey. Positioned as a found sculptural and textile medium, this project uses hair as a lens through which to explore a deeply human impulse: the need to leave a mark.
Current hair disposal methods mean that a naturally biodegradable material has become an environmental burden. Instead of working with its natural lifecycle, hair is compacted into landfills where a lack of oxygen prevents it from decomposing; alternatively, it is incinerated, releasing greenhouse gases. With an estimated 6.7 million kilograms of hair waste produced in the UK alone, this material is not being utilised to its full potential.
Hair fibres possess a range of valuable properties, including high tensile strength, oil absorbency, and flexibility, that make them a strong candidate as a textile fibre, yet they remain without commercialised use. This may be due to consumer perception or a lack of industry will. This project encourages viewers to reconsider hair and recognise its potential as a textile fibre, exploring how it can be combined with other natural materials to produce a more practical and sustainable material.
Burberry 1st Place Design Competition Winner 2022
Milliken 1st Place Design Competition Winner 2024
