Cloth, Climate, and Contemporary Dance

Creative practice is a powerful tool to foster dialogue. Here we see a dancer exploring the intersection of clothing and climate through the expression of movement. The dance culminated in the dancer layering headlamps over her face, obstructing her vision, while surrounded by a circle of garments. People, clothing, and climate are all connected. This was the theme of a recent event I attended as part of my research into the intersection of textiles and the environment in Chicago, titled "Threading the Needle: The Connection between Clothing and Climate" organized by Chicago Fair Trade. The event opened with this contemporary dance performance by Lucky Plush Productions in order to enliven the audience and foster conversation between guests. Individuals attending included dancers, authors, fashion designers, artists, fair trade activists and business owners who all gathered to observe the performance pictured.