Rosie Broadhead

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© Rosie Broadhead 2022

Project Title

Type

Date

Additional Info

‘Odour control or inhibition using antimicrobial finishing.’

Publication

2022

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Broadhead, R.; Craeye, L.; Callewaert, C.. (2022). Chapter 6: Odour control or inhibition using antimicrobial finishing. In: Prof (Dr.) G.Thilagavathi and Dr. R.Rathinamoorthy Odour in Textiles: Mechanisms of Generation and Control. India: Psgtech.

‘The Future of Functional Clothing…’

Publication

2021

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Broadhead, R.; Craeye, L.; Callewaert, C. ‘The Future of Functional Clothing for an Improved Skin and Textile Microbiome Relationship’. Microorganisms 2021, DOI10.3390/microorganisms9061192

Exhibition

2021

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To what extent are our physical bodies affected by the
interaction between our environment and the surfaces and
materials we encounter?

Surface Tension is a virtual exhibition that focuses on realising
the positive impact materials have on the human body. From
gloves designed for NASA astronauts, antiviral seaweed face
masks, eco textiles which capture carbon, to 3D printed
prosthetics that mimic the structure of bone.

Skin, a biological surface, is the barrier between the self and the
world. The complex exterior and semipermeable membrane
interact with our biology and the environment. Yet, surface has
often been overlooked in the quest for depth and truth. The
COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly redefined our lives, from
how we dress to our values in life, work, travel and play. With our
long-established patterns being challenged we are given the
time and opportunity to reflect upon our relationship with our
environment, identities and intentions. With a virus that shifts
our perspective to the barrier between us and the world around
us, we ask how can the materials that we wear or interact with
can offer both protection and improve our wellbeing?
Fashion, or the business of clothing, hasn’t always been
designed with our ever-changing circumstances and new
technologies in mind. However, this doesn’t mean that the
potential is not there. Today, there is an opportunity – and a
responsibility – to rethink the surfaces that surround us, with the
physical, environmental and cultural implications at the centre of design.

This exhibition is designed to host both speculative materials
concepts and projects which are currently on the market or in
the process of being manufactured. While using this as a showcase
for what materials are available, this will also be intended
to accelerate progress of the industry, for a future where the
body and surface are considered simultaneously.
Visit the Immersive digital experience via surfacetension.world
curated by Rosie Broadhead and Wilson Oryema.


www.surfacetension.world
info@surfacetension.world
@surfacetenisonworld

Material

2020

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Our skin serves as a primary defence, a sensory and an excretory organ. Its semi permeable nature plays an important role that coordinates the function of our whole body. Therefore, what we put on and next to our skin has a direct impact on our bodies. As such, our health is shaped by our environment.’Skin Series’ explores the inter action between our clothing and the skin. Rosie Broadhead, the designer and researcher for the brand, focuses on developing garments that provide health benefits to the skin with less impact on the environment. This collection is a series of undergarments exploring benefits of encapsulating naturally derived or active ingredients into the fibres of clothing. The series will utilise fabrics imbedded with seaweed, knitted with Vitamin E yarn, and zinc encapsulated fiber. All of these ingredients have known therapeutic benefits to the skin and body, that improve the immune system of your skin, encourage cell renewal, and also hold antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The focus is on looking at what is natural on our bodies to explore how we can create sustainable yet functional clothing, and replacing the need for toxic chemicals on textiles Skin Series, aims to highlight the bodies intimate relationship with the skin as a permeable membrane covering the body. By exploring the current and future possibilities of these therapeutic materials, it becomes possible to view clothing and the body as one entity.

Credits
Photographer: Anna Victoria Best
Stylist: Wei Ting
Concept/Designer: Rosie Broadhead
Set Design: Tom Schneider
Model: Lara McGrath
Make up: Billie McKenzie
Hair: Moe Mukai
Shoes: Western Affair

Dream Sleep Sound

Garment

2020

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Credits
Audio: Bianca Scout
Visuals: Anna Victoria Best

Model wearing Skin Series

‘Play at Bedtime’

Slip

Garment

2020

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A fashion designer creates a custom garment for a dancer, who improvises movement in the centre of a circle of potters. The potters simultaneously create works in response to the movement of the dancer and the forms created by the garment.

slip = movement = slip = garment = slip = clay = slip = paper

This film shows the initial making stage as described above, there will be a concluding performance in the future as below: The finished fired pots will be exhibited and performed with by the dancer, for an open still life / life drawing session. A group of artists are asked to participate, documenting the event in book form.

The first part of Late Works: SLIP took place at Central Saint Martins in collaboration with Second Skin Costumed Life Drawing and Duncan Hooson of Clay Ground Collective.

Credits
Commissioned by Late Works
Dancer: Kaivalya Brewerton
Costume: Skin Series
Potters: @garethbarks, @ameliabrokenbrow, @duncanhooson, @celeste__mcevoy, @jessiceramics & @ellieredfern
Camera: @1200mx
Editing: Joe Bradleyhill
Sound: Joe Bradleyhill & @patrickfitzgerald97
Concept by @joe.bradleyhill inspired by @o5nathalie ’s @secondskincostumedlifedrawing classes. Concept refined with @o5nathalie @lindathepotter & @duncanhooson

Skin II

Material

2019

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Invisible to the naked eye, our bodies play host to millions of microorganisms. Optimal skin conditions depend on the probiotic bacteria or microbes that live on our bodies. Our skin’s biome is shaped by our natural environment, and what we put on and next to our skin has a direct impact on our bodies. Cosmetic products and fabric finishes on clothing can contain toxic chemicals, which disrupt the diversity of bacteria living on our skin.

‘Skin II’, in collaboration with microbiologist Dr. Callewaert, explores the benefits of encapsulating probiotic bacteria into the fibres of clothing. These are activated when they come into contact with the moisture on our skin, therefore the probiotics are strategically placed in key areas where you would normally sweat. The encapsulated bacteria are associated with reduced body odour, encouraging cell renewal, and improving the skin’s immune system. This project not only replaces the need for chemical fabric finishes, but also reduces the need to wash your clothes as frequently. Skin II aims to use what is natural on our bodies to advance the performance of clothing.

Photographer: Karl Felix

The Magnesium Bikini

Material

2019

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Magnesium Sulphate is a naturally occurring mineral, sourced from the sea and will dilute in water leaving no trace. When worn next to the skin this fluid composite material of Magnesium Sulphate possesses many health and wellness benefits including, reliving muscle tension and reducing stress. This mould-making process in which this product is made also considers how are garment can be made in the future, and the possibility of a circular system. ‘The Magnesium Bikini’ envisions wearing these minerals next to your skin as an alternative for your future wellbeing.

MaDe, a project co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of The European Union, aims at boosting talents towards circular economies across Europe partnering with design and cultural institutions, Elisava, Ma-tt-er and Politecnico di Milano.

  1. ‘Bio Design in Practise’ Guest Lecture for Temporal Futures and Lebanese American University, 2022
  2. ‘Design for the Body, An interdisciplinary approach’ Lecture for Future Materials Bank, Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, 2021
  3. Vogue Yoox Challenge: The Future of Responsible FashionFinalist, 2021
  4. ‘Epidermotopia’, hosted by Collectives, Group Show, Paris, Sept 2021
  5. ‘Surface Tension’, Virtual Exhibition, London Design Festival Sept 2021
  6. ‘Design by Nature’ Museum De Fundatie, Zwolle, July – Oct 2021
  7. ‘Biodesign – The Natural and Synthetic potential’ Panel talk, Fashion Open Studio, April 2021
  8. ‘Futuristic interactions between our bodies, materials and the environment’ British Fashion Council, Fashion Forum Podcast, 2021
  9. The Alternative Design Podcast, Episode 1, 2021
  10. MaDe Material Designers, Finalist, London, 2020
  11. ALMA x SKIN SERIES with Female Biophilia, 2020
  12. ‘Slip’, Late Works, Costume Design, London, 2020
  13. ‘How to Make’ With Zoe Laughlin, Episode 1 BBC FOUR, 2020
  14. ‘Dream Sleep Sounds’ Film Live Streamed  with The Earth Issue, 2020
  15. Green Product Award Nominee, Munich, 2020
  16. ‘You Fab’, Global Creative Award, Finalist, Tokyo, 2020
  17. ‘Future Fabric Expo’ The Sustainable Angle, London, 2020
  18. Future Materials Bank, Jan Van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, Netherlands, 2020
  19. Visiting Lecturer Central Saint Martins and The Crick Institute, 2019
  20. ‘Microbiome: Inside Out’ Naturalis Museum, Leiden, Netherlands, 2019
  21. ‘United Matters’ Dutch Design Week, 19-27th Oct 2019
  22. ‘Bio Design Here and Now’ Open Cell, London Design Festival 19-21st Sept, 2019
  23. Probiotic Clothing Lecture, Rapha Racing HQ, London, 2019
  24. Yksi Expo ‘Milan Re-Used’, Eindhoven, 2019
  25. Ventura Futures, Milan Design Week, 2019
  26. ‘Future Factories’ Material Futures Workshops, Design Museum, London, 2018

Rosie Broadhead is an apparel designer and researcher specialising in biomaterials in the fashion industry. Founder of therapeutic clothing brand Skin Series and Textile Scientist at Ghent University. Her current research focuses on the skin microbiome and probiotics therapy as a solution for antibacterial finishes in textile which utilises technology that works in synergy with the body. Rosie is a graduate of Central Saint Martins’ MA ‘Material Futures’ course and has a background as designer and Head of Sustainability at sportswear brand Perfect Moment and R&D at Rapha. Rosie’s work has been showcased during Milan Design Week, Dutch Design Week, London Design Festival and exhibited at Museum De Fundatie, The Design Museum, Naturalis Museum. Her work has been featured by the BBC and in publications including Forbes, British Vogue, i-D and The New York Times.

Through her interest in the skin and clothing interaction, her research focuses on how science and technology will influence the future of fashion. More recently she has co-founded, Surface Tension platform centred around realising the positive potential of materials.