Professor Kelly Cobb at the University of Delaware has created an amazing product for the area of Philadelphia called the “100 Mile Suit.” The name explains it all; a man’s suit created with materials from within 100 miles of Philadelphia.
What is in the suit?
This is not just a typical jacket and slacks. The suit includes all of the accessories any man would need to wear in a professional or elegant setting: a vest, shirt, pants, socks, shoes, underwear, and tie. However, the products are somewhat different from some other suits. This suit was created from all natural products ranging from local hide to raw wool; even the dye was made from black walnut husks.
Why 100 miles?
92% of the materials for the suit were found within the Greater Philadelphia area (only 8% were from outside the 100 mile radius), but they were still all domestic and all natural. Professor Kelly Cobb states in her proposal that “our clothing is in a sense our second skins, our cloth familiars, our portable shelters. This project focuses on the disconnect which exists in the most immediate of daily interactions, that of the wearer to their clothing. This work maps labor and raw material, bringing performance art sensibilities to an everyday object as a symbol of connection.” This clothing is almost entirely made from materials within 100 miles of Philadelphia so people understand that they do not have to be disconnected from their clothing, which in the past might have been created thousands of miles away, across oceans, in countries they have never even visited.
The Suit Creation
Professor Cobb, of course, needed some help in the creation of the Suit. She received wool from just three different sheep farmers for all of the wool products. The deer-hide used was taken from accidentally slain deer found by one of the volunteers, and the bone used for the buttons was sourced from a forest in Maryland. 25 people pulled together and volunteered their time to help in the creation of clothing from the materials provided. About three to five hands helped create each product of the suit including: knitters, weavers, crocheters, carvers, stitchers, textile artists, spinners, shoe makers, tanners and many other crafters. Who would have known so many talented and skilled individuals lived within 100 miles of Philadelphia?
The Reason for the Suit
The suit was not created to be sold; it was created to show people that they do not have to be disconnected from their clothing. But it was also created so that farmers, craftspeople, and designers in the same area can become connected. If these groups come together, clothing can be easily created in our home towns, creating jobs and a sense of belonging to our second skins (our clothes). Considering the fact that she has been able to connect some local farmers with local artists, Professor Cobb was certainly successful in her endeavor.
According to The Crafts Report “Cobb sees a potential for regional craftspeople to work with farmers to create a local fiber product that can be marketable.” In the struggling economy today, along with the need for our communities to pull together, Professor Kelly Cobb has really helped to set the stage for the new era of economic growth and fashion within the area of Philadelphia.
Recently, Google asked what could be done to help change the world, and it appears that Professor Kelly Cobb has a pretty good idea on that one. Her newest endeavor is creating a linen suit from a field of flax she will be growing this summer!
If you are considering not only remodeling your closet but also remodeling your home to make it more eco-friendly, visit GreenandSave. They are, more than likely, less than 100 miles away.
