‘Locked Groove’ explores a modular approach to music merchandise that connects the music and textile industries, whilst challenging mass production. The project invites music artists to collaborate with local designers to create interchangeable textile pieces that fans can attach, swap and assemble into garments and accessories such as T-shirts and jumpers.
‘Locked Groove’ explores a modular approach to music merchandise that connects the music and textile industries, whilst challenging mass production. The project invites music artists to collaborate with local designers to create interchangeable textile pieces and badges that fans can attach, swap and assemble into garments and accessories such as T-shirts, tote bags and jumpers. Panels can be laced together, attached by saftey pins, or any other way to build different creative statement pieces.
The system is designed with sustainability in mind by considering the full potential of each textile. The emotional value of each piece encourages durability and long-term use. The ability to disassemble garments accommodates changing personal taste while encouraging repair, customisation, trading, and community interaction. Differences in panels creates endless combinations, reducing the need to purchase new garments, helping to bring down consumption and waste. Music artists are still able to keep their own colours, motifs and imagery, adding to the individuality of each piece.
I’ve combined traditional textile processes such as knit with newer developments including bio-textiles to explore how different materials can work collaboratively. Using both synthetic and natural fibres, I’ve focused on how existing textiles can be better utilised to reduce waste while creating space for emerging materials. The knitting process itself allows for efficient yarn usage due to minimal cutting and sewing, while leftover scraps have been repurposed into zero-waste yarn panels.
‘Locked Groove’ acts as a response to current social and environmental issues created by mass production within music and textile industries. The project supports smaller artists and designers through a community model, while holding potential for expansion through wider musician and designer engagement. The collection aims to encourage more mindful approaches to merchandise production and consumption by building stronger connections between materials, makers, artists, and audiences.
