This Enactment was adapted from
This Enactment explored World 263, in which Wool, with its durability and ability to be endlessly recycled, becomes the primary material for all clothing.
The Enactment was created by students, Alberto Cure Velez, Erika Hernández, Khalil Canaán and Luisa Gutiérrez Franklin, and wool weavers Lilia and Ana Maria, in Sutatausa, Colombia.
It was one of a number of enactments developed by MA Design students from the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, as part of a three-day workshop, during which they worked in mixed groups with local women who were textile makers.
The text guiding this Enactment:
In World 263, wool becomes the primary material for all garments due to global environmental policies restricting new textile production. Governments impose strict regulations, limiting fashion brands to sustainable wool-based manufacturing. Circular fashion principles guide clothing production, ensuring reusability and longevity.
Wool being the only legally produced textile, leads to sustainable modular fashion systems.
The group creating this Enactment explored a world in which the fashion industry is entirely dependent on wool. The students learnt wool extraction processes, including shearing and scouring, from the weavers in the group. Together, they developed a policy framework for a wool-based fashion system, incorporating public policies, economic systems, and educational models to support a circular wool-based economy.
The group’s discussions were influenced by themes of resource scarcity, governmental policies on environmental conservation, and the cultural significance of traditional weaving practices. The interaction with local artisans provided a narrative foundation, emphasising the integration of ancestral knowledge into future design solutions.
A modular prototype made from leftover wool was created to demonstrate the multi-use adaptability of garments in World 263.
The project enhanced the students’ understanding of the time involved in wool production, humanising the hands that make the ruanas, sweaters, and the wool that is bought. Being close to the sheep created an additional layer of sensitivity and awareness.
Here are the reflections of the students involved in the Enactment:
The workshop was an enriching experience, blending traditional knowledge with speculative design. One of the main challenges was translating technical concepts into accessible terms for the eldest weaver in our group. However, this process deepened our understanding of how to integrate traditional skills with future-oriented thinking. Through collective discussions, we envisioned a sustainable future where wool production is central to the economy, education, and fashion industries.
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This Enactment was devised by students, Alberto Cure Velez, Erika Hernández, Khalil Canaán and Luisa Gutiérrez Franklin, and wool weavers Lilia and Ana Maria (located in Colombia), based on a World contributed by The Woolmark Company Marketing Team, using a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence which allows others to share and adapt the work in any medium and for any purpose, providing that they credit the authors and share their material using the same Creative Commons licence.
Photographs: members of the enactment group
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