Mirre Willeghems

About the practice

Most of us have lost touch with how our clothes are made. As the fast fashion system grows faster and cheaper, this disconnection only deepens. Mirre looks for alternatives. She discovered that knitted garments can be fully unravelled, the thread stays intact as one long, continuous piece. By collecting knitwear that second-hand stores can no longer sell, she gathers material to explore the unravelling process. Pieces of clothing that aren't used anymore can now be transformed into something new by only using the original, unravelled threads. Extending out of her research, she also organizes social gatherings and workshops where she teaches the technique of unravelling. Together we deconstruct second-hand knitwear, search for the beginning of the thread and unravel. No prior knowledge needed, just curiosity and willingness to slow down. The focus isn’t on making something new, but on becoming conscious of what we already have. Mirre Willeghems is currently doing her Masters in Textile Design at School of arts Gent (KASK), where she is further exploring the potential that the unravelled yarns hold. How can they be used again? How can we extend their story and translate the threads into something new? Her research is still developing, but Mirre is open to small projects or collaborations. Unravelling as a technique, as a shared moment, as a playful way to look at textiles differently.