This episode is a conversation with Berlin based artist and performer, Lisa Simpson and her performative sewing and textile research practice. Her alternative approach to upcycling the discarded and second hand clothing began in Brazil where she established Agente Costura.  A signature feature to Lisa’s work is in how she uses the Singer sewing machine as a musical instrument. 

The nature of her practice is motivated by her love of sewing which is brought to life in her studio, though her materials/tools and in her performances.   Our discussion addresses improvisation and how this informs her ability to adapt and create with the varying materials, musicians/performers and communities she collaborates with.  Our conversation also highlights the Maskerade Brigade, a project she initiated  
 in response to the pandemic.  


This episode is a conversation with Dutch based designer Billie van Katwijk of Studio Billie. Her interdisciplinary practice as a designer is one that has chosen to take an unconventional path and consideration of everyday materials. She explores the everyday and undervalued by guiding it into a new direction, resulting in materials and forms that are conceptually and aesthetically thought provoking.

Our discussion focuses on one of her mater concepts, Ventri. This projects transforms animal food waste, specifically cow stomachs discarded by the animal industry, into an alternative material and leather resource. She developed a proprietary tanning process in order to make this into a functional material. We address issues of the taboo in relation to her discovery and how deeply invested she is in utilising this resource to produce a material that is designed to create awareness, inspire conversation and to educate. Her innovative consideration of materials and resources is meant to highlight the value of under-appreciated in everyday materials.

This episode is a conversation with textile artist and designer Melissa Ferreira Schwager about how she came to establish her brand Adhesif Clothing through her experience as vintage clothing buyer. After 17 years of being located in Vancouver, Canada she recently relocated to Germany. Her unique, patchwork aesthetic is an exploration of upcycling where zero waste methods are combined with sustainable surface design techniques. We talk about how she came to develop her knowledge and expertise in working with certain fibres and materials through the process of upcycling.

Our discussion looks at how she chooses to take a project based approach to her collections and how this translates into a story - capturing the history of the cloth in collaboration with the methods and processes she uses in their transformation.   We also speak very candidly about the creative process, Vancouver, and how methods of creative use/reuse such as upcycling is a valuable skillset and sustainable solution for textile waste in our environment.  `