Patchwork System Workshop

Where were your old trainers made? What journey did the materials take before they ended up here? And how can we take responsibility for the materials we produce, use and leave behind? In this Patchwork System design project workshop, you’ll work with your old trainers to map out their materials and origins, and then incorporate them into a collaborative wall hanging.

Every year, a staggering number of trainers are produced and thrown away. Behind every pair are raw materials, labour, people and places – yet once the trainers become waste, these stories largely fade from view. The Patchwork System, a design project by Peterson Stoop, therefore views used footwear not merely as material refuse, but as an archive of contemporary consumer society.

Guided by the Patchwork System Toolkit developed by researcher Mariana Pereira Silva, you will explore the origins and value of these materials. Participants are asked to bring a pair of worn-out trainers with them. Working alongside the Patchwork System team, you’ll examine the items you’ve brought and uncover the stories connected to them. You will then transform components from these discarded trainers into new segments for the collaborative Patchwork System wall hanging. You’ll even have the chance to ‘adopt’ a piece of it afterwards.