Sayang : revitalising denim waste

Abstract

The modern urban society we live in disconnects us from nature and the reality of the environment around us. With sustainability being a pressing global issue, this ‘out of sight out of mind’ phenomenon becomes an ironic problem as what we learn and are being told to envision do not match the picture of our immediate reality. We ultimately want our interactions with waste to be limited, but we are out of touch with the issues of waste. One such waste is the issue of fast fashion, specifically denim jeans. Ubiquitous and popular across cultures, jeans are discarded or ‘given away’ rapidly as they go out of style or out of size. Current recycling systems for denim fall short, as they are processed for industrial usage such as rags or filling material using high technology and energy consuming processes. This projects seeks to create a positive connection between people and waste by redefining the value of denim waste through sustainable processing techniques. “ Sayang” employs its physicality to create a positive experience and cultivate an appreciation in its untapped value that we often overlook. In the end, it hopes to make issues of waste visible in the literal and figurative sense.