"Dirty Business," is a detailed exploration of the textile industry's obscured practices, the manipulation of our primal instinct of disgust, and its application in material exploration and textile alternatives. It begins with the dissection of the innate emotion of disgust and its versatility with the socio-cultural constructs of "dirt". This thesis reveals how our repulsion, an evolutionary survival mechanism, has been hacked by cultural norms to establish boundaries within our society.
At the core of this investigation, the "dirty" practices of the textile industry will be uncovered. Spotlighting the industry's environmental, social, and sanitary misconducts. The objective is to redirect the automatic response of disgust toward these industry's controversial practices, inciting dialogue and encouraging a shift in societal perception.
Then the demystification of two widely stigmatized materials: human hair and mycelium fungi. Revealing their inherent potential and challengnging their negative connotations.
After establishing a conceptual foundation,a series of material experiments are conducted to explore the potentials and limits of hair and fungi. The final product of this experimental journey is a human hair underwear, which embodies the dichotomy of 'disgust', serving as a powerful symbol to redefine societal norms.
Ultimately, the outputs of this research include a possible collaboration with socially and environmentally responsible brands, as well as a detailed guide to Hair and Fungui's experimental behaviors. This thesis, therefore, acts as a call for a reflection of our preconceptions of 'dirty'.
