Culture

The Black Hair Empowerment at Its Core

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Abstract

Many mothers have the zeal to ensure their children do not end up in the same situation; they strive and hustle in many businesses to ensure their kids survive and make the right decision. Through the strangles, single parents still try to dress decently and hide their pain behind their hair style on several occasions. Textile and apparel design researchers have discussed the  history of black hair and its culture (Ellington et al., 2020; Ingram, 2022). Yet, limited studies have been found on creating a  narrative via art, fashion, and recycling. In this study, reusing existing materials is an environmentally conscious approach to apparel design that allows designers to reevaluate discarded materials, significance and worth. Using techniques of upcycling and crocheting , this design research aims to tell a story of a single black mother.

Keywords: Chrocheting, Story telling, Black hair, Single motherhood, empowerment .

How to Cite:

Mifetu, G. M. & Chen, C., (2024) “The Black Hair Empowerment at Its Core”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 80(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.17446