Gillian Yerington

Wasted Water

Wasted Water is a large scale weaving constructed entirely from discarded t-shirts that responds to American apparel waste. The scribble motif, recorded from the motion of walking for water, represents the 30+ minute journey that 2.2 billion people walk every day for drinking water. Americans throw away 81 pounds of textile waste per year, using enormous amounts of freshwater in the process. A single garment uses 2,700 liters of water in production, enough drinking water for a person for 900 days. The painstaking process of hand weaving acts as a penance to all the people that are affected by our endless desire to purchase more clothing.