Chiel Lubbers

Designer motivated by the concept of Resonance — the continuous interaction with our environment, in which our bodies both influence and are influenced by it, transforming as we live and exist alongside one another. My practice combines field research, craft techniques, and experimental material exploration, with a focus on biodegradable materials that actively participate in living processes.

Works & Projects
Exhibitions
About
CV

email mail@chiellubbers.com
instagram @chiellubbers

Indusium
Fermented celery fibers
Westlandsmuseum, The Hague
Fashionclash festival, Maastricht

Indusium is a biocouture project that emerged from exploring the parallel between plant and human tissue fibers.The project derives its name from the concept 'Indusium' - the Latin word for undergarment - in which corsets are created that reference the supportive and protective muscle and connective tissue layers, which not only receive, store and transmit energy, but also hold our deepest traumas.The garment materializes a dialogue between physical and emotional layers, reflecting an embodied relationship in which our internal fibrous tissues resonate with and are shaped by our environment. 

Indusium explores the vegetal realm through a meditative process of carefully deconstructing celery plants. By extracting individual fibers from the stems by hand, I initiate a transformation that continues through a slow fermentation process. Each fiber is then positioned and layered by hand, creating patterns that mirror the anatomy of human muscle tissues. The garments form emerges through thousands of these carefully arranged fibers, which unite into one composition. This labor-intensive handwork connects craft methods with experimental material exploration, revealing how human and non-human can collaborate in creative work.

Photography Scott van Kampen Wieling
Video Vera Kruip
Creative Direction / Styling Sem Lubbers
Model Juliet Klaar