an axe within a wood

This is the first thing

I have understood:

Time is an echo of an axe

Within a wood.

Philip Larkin, XXVI, The North Ship

I felt deeply compelled to relate to the idea of ‘warmth’ and ‘comfort’ through some form textile piece which could be used to translate a humans basic need to stay warm and protected, as it is a value both rich and poor desire. The outcome would still consist of the main tool I created in this project, the code that represents the directionless movement of the refugee.

The scarves created reflect the idea wearing our life stories and experiences on our sleeve, rarely expressing the ones of which are negative. Luckily in the western-world we can pick and choose what we put online via social media, but when you live as a refugee, news outlets and film-makers extract all they can from refugees to ‘make a good story’. The scarf is made with silk and is delicate, much like the words we use on a daily basis. The words used in the final project would be created from a website where a user can input their own story onto the code, and then buy a scarf for themselves, whilst also raising money for charities that give clothing to refugees. This way, the western audience can make a difference to the life of many, without saying a word but rather talking with a hopeful gesture. 

How can I translate the feeling of constant movement, tragedy and

stoicism conveyed by refugees held in the Calais Jungle to a first world audience? Through the universal language of warmth, 'An Axe Witihn a Wood' presents viewers a new way to give to charity, concentrating on the subject of language, comfort, and wearable design.