S!X

(Denise Sprynskyj and Peter Boyd)

The body of work on display here is derived from the surplus stock of Melbourne vendor Chiodo. S!X scrutinised the garments to transform this excess of unwanted men’s clothing into a new body of work for women. Fabric predominately drives their designs, however working with recycled cloth is complex and time-consuming with challenging defects or difficult fabrics. The activity of deconstruction entails a careful knowledge of how garments fit together and move with the body.

Named after the number on their first studio door, S!X call their work a recipe of recycling, carefully selected patterning and elements of tailoring. Patterns developed ten years ago reappear in their current work, which is transformed by new methods of fabric manipulation. Sprynskyj and Boyd encourage buyers to screw up their clothes and wear them regularly so as to develop a living patina. The label S!X is stamped into the garments and will wash out overtime, eventually leaving their clothing authorless.

While Sprynskyj and Boyd are formally trained in tailoring techniques their interest in sustainability and recycling developed after completing university. They encountered the glut of fashion at places such as the Brotherhood of St Laurence and for S!X something clicked: this is where making should begin. S!X scan op shops and collect tailored garments, which are then worked on the mannequin stand to develop patterns. The pair enjoy the iconoclasm of cutting up other designer’s clothing, for them, this style of work is a kind of appropriation and there is a delicious shock in a customer finding a Comme des Garçons or Jean Paul Gaultier jacket spliced with a thrift store find.

2008(Denise Sprynskyj and Peter Boyd)

The body of work on display here is derived from the surplus stock of Melbourne vendor Chiodo. S!X scrutinised the garments to transform this excess of unwanted men’s clothing into a new body of work for women. Fabric predominately drives their designs, however working with recycled cloth is complex and time-consuming with challenging defects or difficult fabrics. The activity of deconstruction entails a careful knowledge of how garments fit together and move with the body.

Named after the number on their first studio door, S!X call their work a recipe of recycling, carefully selected patterning and elements of tailoring. Patterns developed ten years ago reappear in their current work, which is transformed by new methods of fabric manipulation. Sprynskyj and Boyd encourage buyers to screw up their clothes and wear them regularly so as to develop a living patina. The label S!X is stamped into the garments and will wash out overtime, eventually leaving their clothing authorless.

While Sprynskyj and Boyd are formally trained in tailoring techniques their interest in sustainability and recycling developed after completing university. They encountered the glut of fashion at places such as the Brotherhood of St Laurence and for S!X something clicked: this is where making should begin. S!X scan op shops and collect tailored garments, which are then worked on the mannequin stand to develop patterns. The pair enjoy the iconoclasm of cutting up other designer’s clothing, for them, this style of work is a kind of appropriation and there is a delicious shock in a customer finding a Comme des Garçons or Jean Paul Gaultier jacket spliced with a thrift store find.

2008

Artworks — Exhibitions