We drew inspiration for our project from the Australian satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceaus), the male of which is known to gather as many as two hundred blue objects in order to seduce a mate. In imitation of the bowerbird, we too gathered and photographed some two hundred objects from local streets, squares, entranceways, parks and gardens. The results were the basis for our patterned textiles. For flirtatious females we created two outfits that would turn the prospective mate’s head. The challenge lay in making aesthetic designs from society’s waste. Seduction thrives on surprises – and the cut of our outfits reflects this. Whoever wears it can reveal further layers of pattern at will. We made a short film to capture this aspect of the flirtation.
