Blooming the Bio-Culturals: Making change at the intersection of bio-diversity and cultural diversity

Speculative Design

This wearable soft shell protective pullover is a second speculative design experiment in embodied empathy.

The concept in progress is for a ‘ Protect & Respect’ top, an insulated jacket/pullover made from bio materials such as mycelium. Mocked up here in mainstream fabrics it is designed to be soft to the touch, providing moderate rigidity to the collarbone, shoulders and neck.

The water resistant pullover allows more movement and possibility of engagement with the woodland environment, where desired, without the wearer being seen, without getting wet, without touching slime, without hearing or engaging with the judgment of others.

Who or what is being protected? Who or what is being respected?

Key garment features in development:

-quilted body

-exaggerated 40cm (18”) over-the-head funnel neck with see-through panel

-double padded neck with embedded plug in speakers

-long sleeves with opposing thumb hole

-extra padding to inner sleeve panel

-lower front panel in eco-leather or other durable fabric folds up and form large collection pocket secured by

-durable colour panel in eco-leather inside back hemline flips up to to form bright protective seat. When worn down strong colour seen from front through legs.

-directional piece in tune with current outdoor trends for loose, patchwork, colour blocked garments with flashes of strong colour.

Material qualities: padded, hard wearing, comfortable, wired for sound. Series of conventional and bio fabrics being researched.

Emotional keywords: protective, invisible, withdrawn, beyond reproach.

Good for: Warmth and comfort, Moving quickly, Seeing route ahead without being identified, Blocking out local sounds with speakers, Listening to woodland sounds, Rustling leaves with the edge of tall neck tube, Protecting hands from wet contact, Blending in, Protecting backside from wet surfaces, Covering head in light rain, Reaching out to touch woodland growth.

Bad for: Smelling natural scents, recognising others, smiling at others, learning by seeing.

More armour experiments:

Armour #1 hard shell ‘No touch’ policy

Armour #3 soft shell ‘No bullet’ vest

Armour #4 Hard Shell neck collar