Hand Me Downs

Passing down clothing out of need is not a new concept. Families and communities have been swapping clothing for generations, and as they are passed down they begin to take on a new life. Clothing holds intimate memories that transcend across different communities and bring people together. With sustainability and using our resources to the utmost becoming a trend as well as a need, clothing swaps have become the new norm, but there's nothing new under the sun. These are the themes of Hand Me Downs, a fibers showcase exploring the life cycle of clothing as a resource for community and memory.

Growing up, the anticipation of waiting for a cousin to grow out of a garment was sometimes the closest thing to shopping we had. Or waiting for grandma to pass down coveted jewelry to carry on legacy and keep a loved one close. Each time a garment is…