Portfolio¶
Rooted in Hope¶
My final Fabricademy project explores sustainable wig design through the innovative use of yarns naturally dyed with plant-based and organic materials, including turmeric, black bean, black walnut, onion skins, madder root, and indigo. 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 wigs 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 sustainable design as a pathway for inclusive, culturally responsive solutions in fashion and beyond.
Who, What, When, Where, and Why:¶
Who: Black women experiencing hair loss, as well as broader communities interested in Afrocentric fashion, sustainable design, and culturally affirming beauty solutions.
What: A collection of sustainable wigs made from yarn, dyed using natural materials such as turmeric, black bean, black walnut, onion skins, madder root, and indigo, styled into Afrocentric hairstyles.
When: Developed as a final project for Fabricademy 2026, with potential for continued expansion into future collections or community-based workshops.
Where: Created within the Fabricademy and maker-space environment (e.g., Fab Lab), with applications in educational settings, fashion spaces, and community-centered environments.
Why: To provide an eco-friendly, creative, and culturally relevant alternative to traditional wigs while supporting Black women experiencing hair loss, promoting sustainability, and celebrating identity through Afrocentric design.
Presentation¶
the slideshow that presents your project
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GANTT Chart¶
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embed a slideshow - but remove the tip!
it's easy to embed your slideshow from drive or other similar tools, slideshows files are often too heavy to be uploaded into the repository. You can load an optimised PDF if you want the reader to be able to download your presentation as a portfolio. In this case it's smart to add your details in the page template of the PDF.
To embed your google slide show, rememeber to publish your presentation on the web and copy the embed code. You can resize the size of the window similarly to the example above with a width of 1000; height of 460.
Video / Movie final project¶
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it's easy to embed your video from vimeo or youtube, video files are too heavy to be loaded into the repository.
Gallery¶
Thesis PDF¶
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