Threads of Renewal – Fashion as a Living Ecosystem
Global Research and Documentary Project
Fashion is more than consumption – it is a cultural language.
A language of memory, healing, and connection that spans continents and generations.
We travel through ancestral textile knowledge – from the Americas to the Arctic, from Africa to Asia, returning to Europe – asking what these practices can teach us about resilience, renewal, and shared futures.
At the heart of the project lies a Mandala framework with the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space – connected with textile traditions around the world. Each encounter adds a new thread to this collective fabric.
The journey concludes in Germany, where we explore how global insights can inspire regenerative fashion, education, and community practices in the Global North.
Threads of Renewal is not documentation from the outside, but co-creation: a weaving together of voices, knowledge, and visions across cultures.
The Team:
Henrietta Szakonyi
Designer, educator, researcher, and founder of Bricolage HSZ.
As protagonist and artistic guide, she brings expertise in regenerative textiles and fashion, design education, and community-based projects – while personally exploring textiles as a path of memory and renewal.
Olivia Marei
German actress, public figure, and activist.
As protagonist and narrator, she bridges the journey to wider audiences – connecting the intimate with the global, and reflecting on the relevance of textiles in contemporary life.
Advisory
Currently in preparation with elders and cultural guardians, who will accompany the project to ensure respectful, grounded, and co-creative dialogue.