*Graduation project*

As children we are encouraged to stumble, fall, get up again, learn and fail. This trial and error results in stains, tears, laughter, scrapes, bruises, and scars. Children wear these traces of their learning process as badges of honour. Praised for trying, whether failing or succeeding.
Adulthood is less accepting of the messy and clumsy stumbling around that is so inherently human and a prerequisite for any kind of growth process. Instead, we tend to present a polished image of ourselves.

While rummaging through her most cherished childhood objects and memories, Liv Kiggen found objects that were loved to shreds, scruffy and weathered, and memories that often involved scrapes and bruises, moments of pain and lessons learnt. It is the wear and tear, the material, physical and emotional marks, that show the richness of (past) experiences.

A textile material research into damage, wounds, and traces of intensive use is translated into 3 objects; a coat, a dress, and a pair of socks. Material expression, shape, and colour tell a visual story of the bruises, scrapes, and falls (material, physical, mental and emotional) we go through in our lives. The designs aim to show and celebrate the value and beauty of these marks.
Life leaves traces of living, wear them with pride.