Make-do and Mend

Posted on February 4, 2014

2008: A collaborative project between costume students at Yorkshire Coast College and performance art students at Hull university to produce digital textiles inspired by the make-do and mend thrift initiative on the home front during WW2.  These textiles were then transformed into burlesque costumes and resulted in a public performance inspired by real life experiences of women working in men’s jobs on the home front. The project originated from a family story of my aunt who was a member of the technical drawing team on the battle ship HMS Ark Royal during the war.  The girls used to take the secret plans printed on linen home, washing away the secrets they then used the fabric to make French knickers.