Sarah Breitner - Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle

slow(the fuck)down – Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle

As an industry, we need to slow down – deep down, we all know it. I often ask myself to what extent I, as a designer, am part of this acceleration and how I can change the way I work. I’m not just
interested in the result of a design, but also in the mindset from which it emerges. How can we work in a more sustainable, responsible and less exploitative way? This journey begins with connection, commitment and a willingness to actively learn about slowing down and resilience. If we want to create new structures, we must first question the existing ones. These considerations form the basis of my collection slow(the fuck)down. This work addresses overproduction by consciously opposing the culture of textile waste. In doing so, upcycling becomes a creative tool that takes precisely this waste and rises to the challenge of taking responsibility. Working with materials to which almost everyone has a connection opens up exciting possibilities for renegotiating existing values. At the same time, my work is deeply rooted in the craft of tailoring, whose slowness, precision and closeness to the material represent a conscious counterpoint to the acceleration mechanisms of the fashion industry.All the looks were created from recycled sports jerseys – a highly industrial product made mostly of
100% polyester, which is not biodegradable. In the first step, the jerseys were pieced together to form new, painterly surfaces – a reinterpretation of the functional. This was followed by an exploration of
the designer’s own creative biography. Using an elaborate draping technique inspired by Madame Grès, childhood drawings were reinterpreted – appropriated, shaped, dissolved. This gives rise to a
process of emancipation from one’s own past towards a contemporary political stance. The work invites us to pause – and to rest within the folds.

Sarah Breitner lives and works in Halle (Saale), where she also graduated from Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design. She makes purposeful use of her background as a trained tailor to explore the boundaries of the craft and its techniques. In doing so, she playfully incorporates cultural
references, giving rise to new contexts. Since her internship at BUZIGAHILL, upcycling has become an integral part of her identity as a
designer. Alongside her practical work, she is also interested in social structures, particularly the acceleration and alienation of late capitalism. She explores how these factors impact her environment
and her own work through her creative processes.