The TextielMuseum is launching a colorful series of design face masks in collaboration with textile designer Yamuna Forzani. The 3D-knitted masks are produced in the TextielLab on the innovative knitting machines. One fourth of every mask sold goes to the museum and the designer. The corona crisis is hitting both the museum sector and the creative industry hard.
The masks are for sale in the TextielShop during a visit to the museum (reservation of a time slot in advance is necessary) or in the webshop. Four designs are available (three for adults (€ 20) and one for children (€ 17.50).
Designer masks by Yamuna Forzani x TextielMuseum, 2020. Photo: Sydney Rahimtoola
With this collaboration – on the occasion of the reopening of the museum – the TextielMuseum shows its strength. The institution in Tilburg is not only a museum; in the professional workshop, new products are developed in direct collaboration between designers and technicians. From the 1st of June onwords, recently acquired work by Yamuna Forzani can also be seen in a small presentation in the museum. Director Errol van de Werdt: “When we had to close the museum for 2.5 months, many people asked: ‘How can we help you now that we cannot visit the museum?’. We wanted to do something that matched the role we have as an organisation. During the corona crisis, we will continue to support (young) makers with visibility through our channels, collection purchases and assignments. ”
Presentatie outfits Yamuna Forzani in het TextielMuseum
Add some rainbow!
Yamuna Forzani is an artist, designer and LGBTI + activist. During her studies at the KABK in The Hague, she started developing fabrics in the TextielLab in Tilburg. Her visual language plays with the body and sexuality, the psychedelic aesthetics from the 60s, the current visual culture of social media and kitsch. Yamuna Forzani sees the colorful face masks as a fashion statement and above all as a cheerful and friendly alternative to the often clinical or intimidating appearance of the disposable variants. Forzani: “I like to add a bit of color to life! Making our daily experiences nowadays – like going to the supermarket or traveling by train – more exciting. For me it’s also about solidarity. Wear them out of respect for the other person.”
Designer masks by Yamuna Forzani x TextielMuseum, 2020. Photo: Sydney Rahimtoola
Innovation & actuality
Forzani’s designs were translated in the TextielLab into the programming language of the 3D knitting machine. In the TextielLab, visitors can see how the masks come out of the machine in one piece. The masks are locally produced, without residual waste and no confection is involved. The production is therefore efficient and sustainable. Curator Sjouk Hoitsma: “Especially at a time like this, we see the dark side of production processes and an economy dependent on imports. Artists and designers can offer inspiration, imagination and solutions in times of crisis. As a museum, we follow current events within our field. ” The TextielMuseum recently purchased two ‘corona outfits’ from Forzani and is showing them together with a video in the museum. Hoitsma: “By collecting such pieces, the museum not only supports (young) makers, but also anchors a historic moment and new design trends in our collection. ”
Designer masks by Yamuna Forzani x TextielMuseum, 2020. Photo: Sydney Rahimtoola
About the TextielLab
Textile has a solid position within the creative industry. It plays an increasingly important role in what (fashion) designers, (interior) architects and artists conceive and make. The TextielLab – the beating heart of the TextielMuseum – has taken an important international position in this development. The TextielLab is the place where renowned artists and young talent develop innovative textile projects and where the public can experience this live. Every year, more than 200 projects are realized that can be seen all over the world, from the Paris catwalk to public buildings in Tokyo or Qatar. In addition to the machines and technical expertise, the TextielMuseum offers a wealth of knowledge with its museum collection and the institution plays an important role as a client for artists and designers.
The Yamuna Forzani x TextielMuseum design face masks are not medical face masks. They are made of organic cotton and you can wash them daily at 60 degrees (not in the dryer). The masks consist of two layers of knitted fabric and have space for a replaceable filter (for example two layers of papertowels). Ready-to-use filters measuring 12 (w) x 8 (h) cm are suitable for the adult models. These masks are not a substitute for the other measures of the RIVM; they are complementary. Even with this mask on, keep your distance!
On May 6, the government announced that non-medical face masks will be mandatory in public transport in the Netherlands from June 1, 2020. In recent years, there has been a worldwide advance of face masks, for reasons besides hygiene as well, such as air pollution.
