In Tracing Water, varied shades of blue fabric, made from recycled plastic, are used to create pleated room dividers. The dividers come together to form a sculptural installation of different-sized screens. By working at this architectural scale, the Stockholm-based studio Folkform aims to encourage reflection on different aspects of sustainability – reuse, recycling and their connection with water. 

The textile industry is one of the world’s most water-intensive industries. Textile production uses around 93 billion cubic metres of water annually: large quantities are consumed in the manufacturing process, as well as in the production of raw materials. However, this issue is often overlooked in the choice of textiles for a project, and so Kvadrat is developing different initiatives to minimise impact on water resources during manufacturing.

The textiles chosen for the dividers, Sport and Tero Outdoor, use post-consumer plastic waste and challenge the perceived aesthetic of reused materials – all of which chimes with Folkform’s interest in questioning people’s preconceptions of what materials are considered valuable or not. Sport uses 100 per cent recycled plastic otherwise bound for the ocean, while Tero Outdoor reuses polyester, which significantly reduces water consumption during textile production.

Through Tracing Water, Folkform invites viewers to learn more about the relationship between water and textile production and encourages them to consider the preciousness of our natural resources.