The art of sustainibility
Starsen Koo’s X Re:Down
In a world increasingly aware of its environmental impact, the fusion of art and sustainability is becoming more relevant than ever. One such example of this powerful synergy is the recent collaboration between emerging student artist Starsen Koo, Master’s student at Royal College of Art and our company Re:Down.
This partnership has given birth to a series of creations that not only captivate the eye but also carry a significant message about the importance of recycling and responsible consumption.
The Artist and the Vision
STARSEN KOO is an artist from Seoul, now based in London, and an MA graduate from the Royal College of Art in Fashion (London, UK https://www.rca.ac.uk/ ). The work explores the intersection of sculpture and fashion, focusing on creating wearable sculptures using techniques like casting and robotics to preserve the fluidity of fabrics.
The ‘Moving Sculpture’ collection, featured in the MA show, transforms garments into dynamic sculptures, capturing fleeting moments of movement and translating them into static or mechanically repeated forms. This work explores the interplay between stillness and movement in fashion.
You can check her profile: https://2024.rca.ac.uk/school-of-design/fashion-ma/profile/starsen-koo-moon/ or follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starsenkoo/
At Re:Down we are very proud to have been able to support Starsen Koo by kindly providing our 100% recycled down for this incredible ‘Moving Sculpture’ graduate collection. By integrating recycled down into her sculptures, Koo not only showcases her commitment to sustainability but also highlights the potential of reimagined materials in contemporary art.
Re:Down: Breathing New Life into Discarded Materials
Re:Down is a company with a mission that perfectly aligns with Koo’s artistic ethos. Founded on the principle of giving new life to old materials, Re:Down recycles down and feathers from used bedding, transforming them into high-quality filling materials for new products. This process not only reduces waste but also promotes a circular economy, where materials are continuously repurposed rather than discarded.
Incorporating Re:Down’s recycled materials into her sculptures, Koo demonstrates how art can serve as a bridge between creativity and sustainability. The down, once used for warmth and comfort in bedding, now takes on a new form, adding texture and movement to her pieces. This transformation is emblematic of the broader potential for recycled materials in art and design.
A Message for the Future
The collaboration between Starsen Koo and Re:Down is more than just a meeting of minds; it is a powerful statement about the future of art and sustainability. By choosing to work with recycled materials, Koo is setting an example for other artists and designers, demonstrating that eco-friendly practices can lead to stunning, thought-provoking creations.
In a time when the environmental impact of human activity is under intense scrutiny, Koo’s work serves as a reminder of the role that art can play in promoting sustainability.
