About the Recipe
This recipe explores the role of fashion in alternative imaginary worlds.
We will create and perform our own characters and story from an imaginary world which explores ‘what if’s?’ in the future of fashion!
Participatory Learning
Speculative Thinking
Critical and Creative Thinking
Learning Goals
To explore alternative scenarios in fashion that challenge prevailing paradigms of extraction and consumption.
To explore different methods of ownership and production and their consequences.
Examine what role we want fashion to play in future society.
Further Explanation
Through engaging with ‘what if?’ questions and imaginaries, this recipe explores alternative scenarios and worlds that challenge Fashion’s prevailing paradigm of extraction and consumption.
This activity encourages an implicit examination of what future world we want and what role fashion could play in this future and in society.
Ingredients
A variety of different clothing items + objects from around your home, enough for each player to wear an outfit.
These can be provided by the players or provided by you, the adult. You could bring in items you own or source them from thrift stores, or borrow them etc. Each player will be dressing-up as a character.
A4 Paper
Drawing tools - pens, pencils, crayons etc.
Designed Resources
You can use these resources digitally or printed:
Imaginary World Theme Cards
How to Draw an Exquisite Corpse Card
Character Cards (These character cards are created by other young people!)
Story Building Activity Sheet
Reflection Card
Recipe Prep & Play-Space Set Up
RECIPE PREP
All timings are approximate minimums and can easily be extended to be played across further hours or even days. They can also be shortened to create quick-fire versions.
The ‘Story Building Activity Sheet’ can be used literally or as a guide. Players could instead use the questions and prompts and plan on their own paper/notebook.
You will need to either instruct players to bring in a variety of clothing or objects to dress-up in, or these can be sourced and provided by you.
PLAY-SPACE SET UP
You will need to allocate the players into groups. These can be of any number, but a recommended amount would be 3 to 5 players per group.
Remember, you’re playing too!
You can arrange the Play-Space so that everyone is gathered in circles within their groups.
Ensure there is space for movement and exploration when developing the stories and performances.
Method
PART ONE: STORY EXPLORATION
Approx 15 minutes
Players explore the different What If? Stories in the provided examples.
This could be completed as an entire group/class or in their individual groups.
1. Players choose one of the four provided themes in the Imaginary World Theme Cards:
1 - Collective Ownership
2 - Individual Ownership
3 - Everything Must Be Brand New
4 - Nothing Can Be Brand New
2. Players read the example story from their chosen Imaginary World Theme Card.
3. Players discuss the example story using the questions and prompts provided on the Imaginary World Theme Card. Encourage players to write notes regarding their answers.
4. As one collective group, you can have a group discussion where each group shares their responses and answers to the questions relating to their world.
PART TWO: STORY CREATION
Approx 1.5 hours +
Players create and perform their own What If? Story in an Imaginary World! Players use the stories provided in the Imaginary World Theme Cards as examples, to help guide them.
Each group will choose one imaginary world theme and each player will develop a character.
Approx 30+ Minutes:
1. Each group chooses one of the four provided themes in the Imaginary World Theme Cards:
1 - Collective Ownership
2 - Individual Ownership
3 - Everything Must Be Brand New
4 - Nothing Can Be Brand New
2. Each player then needs to create a character. They can choose from the methods below to create their character (or you choose one method for all players).
Players choose a character from one of the provided Character Cards.
OR
Players create their own character by using the How to Draw an Exquisite Corpse Card.
Using their chosen Imaginary World Theme + Characters, players will now create and perform their own story!
Approx 45+ Minutes:
3. Players use the Story Building Activity Sheet to develop the story within their imaginary world. Their performances can be as short or as long as you like, but a recommendation would be 2-3 minutes.
Approx 45+ Minutes:
4. Each player needs to act as a character.
Each character needs an outfit. Players can use the clothing, accessories and objects provided to dress-up as this character.
They can be as literal or creative as they like. Encourage players to have fun dressing-up and imagining what their character might wear.
5. Once they have dressed up, their task is to perform their stories!
Each character will play a different role in this story. Ensure all players are involved.
Players can first practice performing their stories.
6. Players can showcase and perform their final story to the wider group.
After their performance, players should describe what their story was about, and their imaginary world theme. Encourage other players and other groups to ask questions, see if they can guess the answers first!
PART THREE: REFLECTION
Approx. 15+ Mins
1. Players use the What if? Imaginary Worlds Reflection Card to reflect on creating their imaginary world.
2. You could facilitate a group discussion afterwards to talk about their experiences and what they learned.