BORN FROM THE TIDES OF COLLABORATION, THESE CONCEPTUAL SEAWEED TROUSERS ARE A TESTAMENT TO CO-CREATION, INTRICATELY WOVEN BY OVER 50 PAIRS OF HANDS DURING TWO IMMERSIVE ‘MATERIALS AS SPECIES’ WORKSHOPS. COMPRISING 10 PACIFIC SEAWEED VARIETIES – 9 FORAGED FROM THE OREGON COAST’S DRIFTLINE AND 1 FARMED IN JAPAN – THE PIECE EMBODIES OUR INTIMATE ANCIENT KINSHIP WITH ALGAL LIFE.

KELP, OFTEN CALLED THE ‘TREES OF THE OCEAN’, PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN CARBON SEQUESTRATION, PHOTOSYNTHESIS, AND HABITAT CREATION – ALONGSIDE SUPPORTING MARINE BIODIVERSITY, PROTECTING COASTLINES, AND COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE. EACH SPECIES, WITH ITS NATURAL HUES AND TEXTURES, REMINDS US OF THIS OCEANIC ABUNDANCE, RESILIENCE, AND OUR PROFOUND INTERDEPENDENCE.

MATERIALS | LINEN THREAD AND FEATURED SEAWEED SPECIES: FEATHER BOA KELP (EGREGIA MENZIESII), BULL KELP (NEREOCYSTIS LUETKEANA), GIANT KELP (MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA), TURKISH TOWEL (CHONDRACANTHUS EXASPERATUS), WINGED KELP (ALARIA MARGINATA), SEA PALM (POSTELSIA PALMAEFORMIS), SEA LETTUCE (ULVA), EELGRASS (ZOSTERA MARINA), SURFGRASS (PHYLLOSPADIX), MA KOMBU OF JAPAN (LAMINARIA JAPONICA).

CONCEPT & TROUSER DESIGN | JESSIE CURRY

COLLABORATOR | KRYSTLE MOODY WOOD, MATEREVOLVE

LOOM DESIGN | VEGA HERTEL

WEAVING | MATERIALS AS SPECIES WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

SEAWEED FORAGING | ALANNA KEIFFER, SHIFTING TIDES NORTHWEST

PHOTOGRAPHY | JESSIE CURRY

LOCATION | PORTLAND, OREGON, U.S.