Re-imagining Ladies Tights
2012-2014

Jason Wen
Reimagining Tights explores the environmental impact of consumption and disposal of tights and stockings and the role they play in many people's lives.
We have collected 100s of individual stories about tights; let us know yours?
Original Project: LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM 2013
Commissioned by London Borough of Lewisham with support from Arts Council England, ‘Re-imagining Ladies Tights’ will raise awareness of textile recycling by exploring the politics of tights and stockings.
This opportunity allows Akleriah, with support from Platform-7, to explore the image, gender politics, social and material value of women’s tights. By working with women volunteer in Catford and their personal tights’ stories, it is envisaged that a more significant social meaning, which discarded tights carry, and make their recycling problematic and challenging, will be addressed. With this project Akleriah create new forms of conceptual interactive performance art while using tights as a medium. It will be an interactive performative participatory experience. ‘Re-imagining ladies tights’ project is divided into 5 stages over May and June 2013:
Initial Events
1. Tights Collection - ongoing until 23rd June 2013
2. Public Tights Wash - 21st May (5-7pm) "1. Tights Collection - ongoing until 23rd June 2013
2. Public Tights Wash - 21st May 2013 (5-7pm)
3: Tights Cutting Into Yarns - 6th June 2013 (5-7pm)
4: Tights Image - 16th June 2013 (12-2pm)
5. National Recycle Week Tights Workshop - 21st June 2013 (5-7pm)
All gatherings, except the 4th stage (Tights Image), are happening at - age Uk shop, Lewisham & Southwark, 10 Catford Broadway, Catford, SE6 4SP."
3: Tights Cutting Into Yarns - 6th June (5-7pm) 12
4: Tights Image - 16th June (12-2pm) 12
5. National Recycle Week Tights Workshop - 21st June (5-7pm) 12
All gatherings, except the 4th stage (Tights Image), are happening at - age Uk shop, Lewisham & Southwark, 10 Catford Broadway, Catford, SE6 4SP.




Social Perception
Akleriah explore the social value and perception of women’s tights. Tights are often seen as underwear, a very personal item. Once the material’s ‘imperfections by wear’ become too visible they are usually discarded to the back of a drawer or bin. It could be suggested that as an item of clothing, once belonging to a body, tights are esthetically and functionally appreciated. But once used and discarded not many people (except the fetish community) want to be associated with them, they become abject. Akleriah aim to explore with this project, what are the possible reasons for this behaviour of repulsion and rejection and what is the attitude of different ethnic cultures living in the London Borough of Lewisham.
Conversation
The project is about conversation; we want your stories (and your used tights) to better understand how tights affect us, as women, how we wear them for our own purposes and how they may possibly culturally bind us. By better understanding what tights mean to us we may become more aware of why we, as a population, waste so many with such little consideration. Regardless of your background, we would like to hear how tights are part of your life – join us in Catford during May and June 2013.
Contact
To take part in one of our tights transformation gatherings or to give us tights you no longer require or to share your story, projects@platform-7.com