Massey University

New Zealand

Kristal Roberts

Rethread

Kristal’s design process began by sourcing second-hand denim from opportunity shops and off-cut bins at Massey. Traces of the garments' previous lives were carried into the Rethread collection through reconstruction. Innovative textile manipulation processes were developed including 'denim fur' and 'denim mesh' to alter the properties of the denim and minimise waste. Inspired by disturbing scenes of environmental pollution caused by the denim textile industry in the documentary River Blue, Rethread was born out of a desire to encourage the reuse of existing materials. Carefully constructed using 100% second-hand denim, the collection challenges the low worth of discarded denim by transforming it into artisanal garments of dysfunctional beauty.