SOILSKIN
Soil is our skin, skin is our soil
AUTHORS: Barbara Rakovská, Sofia Mazzucchelli Pompeu de Toledo, Xaneva Elorriaga George
FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE FASHION 2024
The SOILSKIN project aims to create renewable garments integrated with biotechnological components. Inspired by post-earth roamers forced to endure aridity, the wool-cotton blend textile used for the body of our dress is temperature adaptable, sustainable to cultivate and acts as a carbon sink. The design features a 3D printed corset and medieval-style gorget with a degradé coloring, representing desiccation cracks due to global warming. This armour reflects UV rays, but also represents the aestheticization of climate change in dystopian narratives. In our futuristic imagining, the hands-on ritual of ripping and immersing the fabric will not only stimulate ecological restoration, but revive humanity's empathy for the planet's thirst.



Soil is our skin, skin is our soil
Welcome to a future where the intricate bond between soil fertility and reproductive health takes centre stage in our food systems. Drawing inspiration from origin narratives across diverse cultures, we discover a profound connection between human existence and the soil beneath our feet. However, our journey unfolds against the backdrop of a sobering reality: the degradation of our soil, our most essential resource, is accelerating at an alarming pace. As we face this crisis, our path forward into the future is shaped by an urgent call for change. In this envisioned future, symbiotic relationships between humans and soil become necessary, transcending mere physical touch to become a unifying force for the well-being of both humanity and the planet. Technological advancements serve as a catalyst for this transformation, fostering connections with nature, promoting regeneration, and fostering harmonious coexistence. Here, the soil is revered as a living, breathing entity, and individuals are intimately attuned to its rhythms. Our journey extends into the realm of reproductive technology. In the future, deforestation will drastically alter the landscape, leaving it barren and depleted of vital ecosystems. It will become necessary for humans to intervene and aid in the reforestation efforts to restore balance to the Earth. Fashion is used as a tool for soil fertility measurement and recovery.
Transformative New Paradigm | Psychologically-Induced Environmental Activism
A dress with an inflatable stomach provides a visual cue that responds to poorly fertile soil. This can trigger a motherly instinct in the wearer. This design initiative encourages women to sacrifice a piece of their second skin, tearing off specially designed segments to nourish the degraded soil.
The development of a revolutionary garment utilizing advanced 3D printing technology. This innovative piece is designed to measure soil fertility and reflect its status onto the wearer's body. By considering five crucial fertility factors, our garment provides real-time feedback on soil health and data on what nutrients it is lacking.
Here's how it works: If the soil lacks essential nutrients, the garment exerts gentle pressure on the body through inflatable components, causing discomfort. This dynamic response allows users to better understand the intimate connection between soil fertility and human well-being and fertility. Through this project, we aim to foster a deeper connection with the soil and raise awareness about the importance of reconnecting with our planet. By bridging the gap between soil health and human fertility, our innovative garment opens up new possibilities for environmental stewardship and holistic well-being.
Technology | Shoe Monitoring
The monitoring of the soil and impact assessment is carried out by stake sensors placed at the bottom of a shoe. Using a flexible electronic biomaterial casing, sensors run from the bottom of a stocking up to a stomach piece with air-pockets that inflate. The shoes are programmed to set off the inflation mechanism based off of a numerical range within each parameter that it measures (pH, light level, soil temperature, humidity and air temperature). The data from the shoes will be gathered for analytic purposes, measuring soil health worldwide.

Artists no longer need to use technology merely as a tool to create art; instead, we can integrate it as part of our body and mind, transforming our perception of reality. Technology becomes a medium of communication, allowing us to connect more deeply with our surroundings—we can feel the soil, the earth, and the rhythms of nature in new and immersive ways.

PRESS & EXHIBITIONS

La moda i la tecnologia es converteixen en solucions per al futur - CRÒNICA DEL VIBEZ FESTIVAL

Climate change, pollution… What will fashion be like in the future? - Four multidisciplinary teams made up of students from the Master in Design for Sustainable Fashion Technologies from IED Barcelona and FabLab Barcelona IAAC participated in the European programme ATTRACT Future Technologies for Sustainable Fashion (ATTRACT FTSF) with the support of IdeaSquare/CERN.

SOILSKIN - Based on ATTRACT project: AHEAD
BEHIND THE SCENES
This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101004462.
