JRAT Zero Waste - Artist Talk & Pop-up | Sep 19-22, 2024

September 17, 2024

Opening Reception & Artist Talk
Sep 19, Thursday 7-9 PM

Join JRAT at Bungee Space on Thursday, Sept. 19th from 7-9 PM for an exclusive pop-up of JRAT’s newest collection, HOMESICK. Select pieces will be available alongside sale pieces from past collection, Channel Changer.

At 7:30 PM, Janelle will be giving a presentation about her methodologies, including zero waste patterning and garment reclamation, as well as her design philosophy, ethical commitments, and art practice. Please join us for this rare opportunity!

JRAT HOMESICK Collection Pop-up at Bungee
Sep 19 (Thu) - 22 (Sun), 2024

JRAT’s SS25 collection, HOMESICK, emerges out of fond memories of miserable moments–staying home sick from school—under the loving care of mid-90s daytime television (talk shows, games shows, infomercials, and all).

HOMESICK is a comforting mirage to snuggle up with, when facing the intolerably bleak nature of the future before us.

In the same way that memories are an amalgamation of recollections, the garments of HOMESICK replicate the slashing and splicing of the memories in one’s mind, but in textile form. Pillowy silhouettes contrast with these shredded surfaces to swallow the body in a safe, protected embrace.

In no way haphazard, the hodge-podge of materials, textures, and colors that comprise HOMESICK are intentionally and personally curated from found, reclaimed, and deadstock materials by the artist behind JRAT, Janelle Abbott.

HOMESICK finds solace in the blissful self-deception that nostalgia manifests.

Janelle Abbott (JRAT) was born into the fashion industry—her parents owned a clothing manufacturing company in Seattle for over 20 years. This early exposure to the BTS of garment production gave Janelle a sense of reverence for the labor involved in creating clothing. After receiving a BFA from Parsons School of Design, she decided to carve her own path—one committed to garment reclamation, sustainability, hand craft, and the zero waste design methodology. Densely pleated, boldly clashing, and unexpectedly rhythmic, Janelle’s work is scrappy, unapologetic testament to the time and energy it takes for real humans to create every consumer product we engage with. She sees her place in the industry as a fire fighter against the ramped over-production of fast fashion.

Photos from the HOMESICK SS25 presentation on Sunday, Sept. 8th, 2024.
Graphic by JRAT & Shuyu Peng