FABRIC OF LIFE
Ted Talk Transcript
This book is a transcription of Emma Slade Edmonson’s 2020 Ted Talk, The Fabric of Life. The talk discusses the emotional and personal connections people have to clothes as well as the environmental impact of the industry.
Watch her talk here.
The cover is made entirely of frayed white denim letters on white denim and enclosed with a hot pink zipper to give a visual clue to what is inside.
The thesis of Edmonson’s talk informs all aspects of the cover. The book is susceptible to staining, fraying, and inherently aging with its owner. The book is small, measuring eight by eight inches, to remain intimate and personal. Edmonson urges us to care for our belongings and create long-lasting lives for them, and this book is an exercise in that practice.
Sourcing Materials
The book utilized upcycling and recycling in various ways. All textiles, zippers, and buttons were sourced from a local second-hand art supply shop. Other materials were found, such as the dryer lint that is recolored on the end pages.
Recycle the Recycling
After the fabrics were manipulated traditionally, they were altered digitally to give the same assets life in a new way. As fabric is a tactile medium, it was imperative to keep its textural integrity through type as texture, physical fabric elements, and digitally manipulated fabric assets.
