What if the only thing you were allowed to wear was what you wasted?

Set in the Swiss Alps, my capstone project envisions a reality where two sisters are dressed in garments made from food waste. This concept underscores the staggering reality that one-third of all food produced globally is discarded annually, often due to consumer-level issues like bruising, overbuying, or misjudged expiration dates (Figure 1). Growing up in Switzerland, where food traditions were integral to everyday life and cultural identity, I developed a passion for cooking that inspired me to transform food waste into garments, challenging conventional standards in fashion. This project aims to highlight how food waste not only wastes resources but also contributes to methane emissions in landfills, accelerating global warming. I hope to inspire viewers to recognize that small choices, like reducing food waste, can have a significant effect on the planet. Through this work, I am developing a visual language at the intersection of alternative image-making, sustainable fashion, and environmental activism.

The series is created with an alternative image-making technique called cyanolumen (see two pages down for visuals). Cyanotype solution was applied to black-and-white RC photographic paper, onto which I arranged kitchen scraps. After exposing the paper under UV light for 18 minutes, the prints were developed and dried, then used as textures behind hand-cut photographs of the models. The final images were scanned and printed onto plates to emphasize the connection to food and consumption. I chose nine plates, as 9 is divisible by 3, symbolizing the statistic that 33.3% of all food produced globally is wasted. In terms of the images, I embraced natural light and spontaneous compositions, allowing the models to move freely through varied locations. This approach, along with minimal makeup and subtle post-processing, preserved the raw quality of the photographs. The deep blue of the cyanotype evokes both serenity and urgency, while the green tones symbolize nature's richness.The models engage directly with the viewer in only two of the nine images, reflecting the quiet unease of confronting food waste. In the remaining images, their expressions symbolize the emotional distance many feel toward the consequences of food waste.