Blood serious is a project about menstruation itself, the shame surrounding it and menstrual poverty. About 50% of people have been menstruating for years, but we don't seem to be allowed to talk about it. It's a taboo that makes us embarrassingly hide our pads and tampons. I thought it was such a shame and time for a change!
Therefore I developed a mini-collection with the aim of limiting shame and making menstruation and all its components negotiable and visible. The chosen target group (12-18 years) arises from the average age at which menstruation starts (12-13 years) and the age period in which shame about this topic is normalized (high school).
The collection consists of a dress 'Vagina as a starting point', a one-shoulder top called 'Blood loss' and a belt 'Caught cramps'. The choice of knitting techniques per work arose from translating three aspects of menstruation; the vagina as the starting point of menstruation, blood loss and menstrual cramps.
All 3 they contain a semi-transparant bag to put sanitary towels and tampons in and give girls a colorful outfit with which they can openly share their menstruation.
Close up 'Caught cramps'
Top 'Blood serious'
Samples from Textile Lab
Facts behind the concept
5780 euros =
average amount of money spent on menstrual products in period life
1/10 =
women struggling with menstrual poverty (research Plan International)
Designed by me, knitting by Textile Lab (Tilburg)
Samples: trying out color ways as well as making menstruation visible