Luffa Cylindrica is a type of vine that produces fruits that are usually dried out and harvested as sponges. These natural luffa sponges have many desirable properties, they are compostable, non-toxic, self weaving and fast growing. I have spent the last year investigating this material as it is my belief that in the future, luffas could be used as an important alternative to unsustainable synthetic meshes.
This project is conceptually underpinned by the theme of resilience. I was forced to confront the limitations of my own resilience as a maker during the pandemic as well as the limitations of the luffa, which resisted many of my efforts to work with it. It is my hope that this project will increase the visibility of the luffa as a natural fibre and spark further discussion about sustainability in the textile industry.
Deimatic Collar
Fortress of Resilience
Purple Cocoon
Fortress of the Future
Dormant
Fortress of Peace
Yellow Cocoon
Fortress of Vigilance
Emergence
Notebook