Hemp Futures

Tanja Kirst
Textile designer, b. 1988

Tanja Kirst’s work is characterized by reflection on thoughts and details that you don’t immediately recognize. This includes subtle colour transition and gradation into shades.

Both analog and industrial, Kirst works with sustainability as a recurrent value. Her work is often based on an investigation of how weaving can interact with light, depending on how the light falls on the textiles and the vantage point. Kirst works across material scales where she balances simplicity with complexity, leaving space for nothingness and the space in between, in order to experience and reflect on the qualities and narratives of the raw material.

With interaction and observation, all the functions and details can be experienced over time. This experimental process and way of designing are developed with an intention to add more value to the textile – and to give a poetic approach and longevity to the product.

Hemp Textile

For more info about her Mindcraft project please visit her website: https://tanjakirst.com/

Notes I took in the Even

Tanja Krist: Studied 6 years of hemp material

  • Tanja went to Japan and got introduced to hemp material there and started to learn to weave
  • In Japan, They have mentioned to her that it is sustainable material, and that it how she got curious to know more about hemp.
  • Cotton destroys the soil whereas hemp perform better then cotton for its nutrition, that is why hemp is such an important factor.
  • Transperency, Design her own yarn as a designer you must be creative instead of buying dying yarn.
  • Is it Time consuming ? The answer is no, the time is woth it to spend research and building yarns for hemp. It is true that the material is expensive for yarn produce, but it give a higher value and quality to the product.
  • Hemp is a stronger fiber than linen, Linen is similar but different plant wise.
  • Cost of the hemp is a based trapped thing that should not effect the industry, “Do not let the cost of the hemp be a trap.” It is expensive , but the value is important and sustainbale, start the demand for the product and have it licensed.
  • Farmers and designers mostly can be involved into the process “SupplyChain”.

Sources

Kirst, T. (2020). The Mindcraft Project 2020. Retrieved December 8th, 2020 from https://tanjakirst.com/THE-MINDCRAFT-PROJECT-2020

The Mindcraft Project. (April 30th, 2020). Tanja Kirst: “Material research, plant fibers for textile use and how to incorporate sustainability throughout the entire design process.”. The Mindcraft Project 2020. Retrieved December 8th, 2020 from https://mindcraftproject.com/journal/tanja-kirst-material-research-plant-fibers-for-textile-use-and-how-to-incorporate-sustainability-throughout-the-entire-design-process/