02 — 2025.9.12 — 2025.10.10
UWC Value Bag Design
Functional Textile
01 — Inquiry
Research into UWC values and batik traditions revealed deep connections between cultural identity and everyday objects. Interviews with fellow students uncovered the specific needs of boarders — how they carry everything they own, navigate diverse environments, and express identity through personal objects. Studies of batik patterns from Indonesia and Malaysia informed the design direction.
02 — Ideation
Symbolic pattern development explored how UWC values — compassion, responsibility, integrity — could be woven into a functional object. Charm concepts evolved through sketch iterations, testing which symbols felt authentic rather than decorative. Pattern making required multiple fabric tests to understand material behaviour — how wax resists flow, how indigo penetrates cotton, how different resists create varied depth in colour.
03 — Prototyping
The wax resist technique on cotton required precise temperature control and steady hands. Indigo dyeing involved managing pH levels, oxidation timing, and multiple dip sequences to achieve the desired depth of blue. Each layer demanded patience — removing wax between dips, re-dipping for darker tones, and carefully washing to preserve pattern clarity. Sewing and assembly tested the balance between structural integrity and aesthetic refinement.
Next Project
Light Up SDGs
Symbolic Lighting Object