Portfolio

Rooted in Hope

My final Fabricademy project explores sustainable wig (crowns) design through the innovative use of yarns naturally dyed with plant-based and organic materials, including turmeric, black bean, black walnut, onion skins, and madder root. This project centers on the intersection of sustainability, cultural expression, and wellness by reimagining alternative hair solutions that minimize environmental impact while honoring traditional dyeing practices rooted in global and ancestral knowledge systems. By replacing synthetic fibers and chemical dyes with biodegradable yarns and natural pigments, the project contributes to more eco-conscious approaches within both the fashion and beauty industries. The crowns are designed and constructed to reflect a range of Afrocentric hairstyles, celebrating the texture, volume, and versatility of Black hair. Styles such as afros, twists, braids, and sculptural forms are explored using yarn as a medium, allowing for both artistic expression and functional wearability. The use of yarn not only provides a lightweight and flexible structure but also opens possibilities for customization, color variation, and tactile richness through the natural dyeing process.

A key focus of this project is to provide a culturally affirming and accessible solution for Black women experiencing hair loss due to medical conditions, stress, or other factors. Traditional wigs can often be expensive, chemically processed, and lacking in representation of natural Black hair textures. This project challenges those limitations by offering an alternative that is both empowering and sustainable. It redefines beauty standards by centering identity, creativity, and care. Additionally, the project serves as an educational tool, documenting the full process from dye extraction and yarn treatment to wig construction and styling. It highlights the potential of combining digital fabrication, craft techniques, and sustainable practices within a Fab Lab environment. Ultimately, this work blends innovation with tradition, positioning thoughtful design as a pathway for inclusive, culturally responsive solutions in fashion and beyond.

Storytelling also plays a significant role within the final presentation of Rooted in Hope. The final video will visually document the transformation of raw yarns into completed botanical crowns while showcasing the emotional and cultural narratives connected to each design. Through before-and-after gallery comparisons, viewers will witness the evolution of the turmeric, black bean, madder root, black walnut, and onion skin crowns from material experimentation to fully realized wearable art pieces modeled on the body. These visual narratives emphasize themes of identity, resilience, beauty, healing, and sisterhood while reinforcing the connection between Afrocentric aesthetics and botanical innovation. Lastly, the final video and gallery presentation will introduce the completed thesis project as a celebration of sustainable fashion, cultural storytelling, and wearable crown design rooted in hope, empowerment, and transformation.

Storytelling Presentation

Download presentation here

Video - Rooted In Hope: Botancial Crown Collection

Gallery

Before	After
Turmeric Crown	Model Olyvia – Turmeric
Blackbean Crown	Model Brooke – Blackbean
Blackbeans with Beads Crown	Model Navy – Blackbeans with Beads
Madder Root Crown	Model Dennell – Madder Root
Black Walnut Crown	Model Quameya – Black Walnut
Onion Skins Crown	Model Darlene – Onion Skins

Final Presentation

Thesis PDF

Download thesis here