Designer Natalie Purschwitz’s MakeShift Project is an art and research experiment that attempts investigates the relationship of clothing with the development of ideology and cultural production. Purschwitz is the designer behind Hunt & Gatherer, a clothing line that focuses on natural materials and contemporary design.

MakeShift Project Image: Day 9

The MakeShift Project challenges Purschwitz to only wear clothing items that she herself has made…for an entire year. This includes socks, shoes, underwear, coats, jackets, hats, bathing suits, accessories, etc.

MakeShift Project Image: Day 12

The project began on September 1^st, 2009, and, only15 days in, has already produced designs solutions that the challenge Purschwitz as both designer and user without sacrificing the integrity of the function and design of the clothing.

MakeShift Project Image: Showroom Opening

Be sure to follow this inspiring project. You can participate by leaving comments on the MakeShift Project blog or by visiting the MakeShift showroom located at 8 E. Cordova St., Vancouver, BC.

Source: The Conveyor Belt, MakeShift Project and Hunt & Gather

Mary F Hanlon

Mary has a PhD in Sociology from University of Edinburgh, researching responsible fashion and transnational labour rights activism in the wake of the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh.