The Beginning
01 / THE RESEARCH
Growling Stitch grew out of textile research conducted at the University of Alberta, where donated garments were examined in collaboration with local thrift organisations.
The research looked closely at what happens to clothing after donation - particularly items that fall outside conventional resale because of stains, tears, wear, or other defects.
02 / WHAT WAS OVERLOOKED
Among the garments examined were large quantities classified as substandard: pieces that remained materially usable but were difficult to resell because of visible stains, damage, or wear.
The subsequent Treat & Clean research explored how cleaning, repair, and textile care could recover some of this lost value. It also raised a broader question: what should happen to materials that cannot, or will not, return to the rack?
03 / FROM RESEARCH TO STUDIO
That question became the starting point for Growling Stitch.
Rather than treating substandard textiles as an endpoint, the studio began exploring reconstruction as another possible path. Damaged jeans, stretched knitwear, stained shirts, and other overlooked garments became source materials for new work.
This research background continues to shape how Growling Stitch approaches design today: by considering fibre, condition, remaining material potential, and the history each textile already carries.
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