Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has unveiled a new exhibition, Creating a Knot Wrap Revolution: The Art of Passing Forward, showcasing a unique industry collaboration with global cosmetics brand LUSH.
The exhibition, which opened on 1 May at University House on AUB Campus, is the culmination of an intensive, three-week project where BA (Hons) Textiles Design students worked alongside LUSH's design team to reimagine the future of sustainable, zero-waste gift wrapping.
Curated by Charlotte Hunt from AUB, and Emma Tardif from LUSH – both proud AUB alumni – the project is supported by TheGallery at AUB and centres on the design of a bespoke 70 cm knot wrap, a reusable fabric alternative to single-use paper inspired by the Japanese art of furoshiki.
The project serves as a creative prelude to the launch of The LUSH Guide to Knot Wrap book in July. Emma, Gift Design Lead at LUSH, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership:
“It's been a real pleasure collaborating with the Textiles Design students on this live brief and seeing their creative responses to the future of knot wrap.
“Inspired by the idea of 'creating a knot wrap revolution' and 'the art of passing forward', celebrating knot wrap as something reusable, meaningful and made to be shared, swapped and enjoyed again and again. It feels like a really special collaboration, and a lovely prelude to the launch of The LUSH Guide to Knot Wrap book.”
The project followed a rigorous three-week industry timeline, beginning with a research and development phase where students conducted deep-dive research and developed colour palettes.
This initial stage was supported by a visit from Emma and the LUSH buying team to discuss sourcing and printing techniques.
During the second week, focus shifted to design and production, with students developing digital designs and translating the concept of ‘passing forward’ into vibrant textile patterns.
“It’s been really exciting working on this live brief with LUSH," says participating BA (Hons) Textiles Design student Megan Cullingford. "Collaborating with an industry level brand is such an amazing opportunity for us in Textiles.
“I am also lucky enough to be joining Emma and her team at LUSH for a work experience placement, which I am extremely looking forward to after having a taste of what LUSH has to offer for textiles!”
Fellow student Millie Sellwood adds, “This live brief with LUSH has been completely different to anything we have done previously at university, and I have absolutely loved being a part of it.
“Coming straight from industry, this project was much faster-paced than we’ve been used to but the challenge paid off and the finished knot wraps look amazing! This has been a wonderful opportunity and has made me excited for what a career in industry might look like in the future.”
The collaboration concluded with a presentation and exhibition phase, featuring professional presentations to LUSH on 29 April. These final showcases included visualisations and photography of the wraps in use, demonstrating their versatility as headscarves, shoulder bags and decorative accents.
Charlotte, a lecturer on the BA (Hons) Textiles Design course, comments, “The live brief with LUSH is such a valuable experience for our Textiles Design students, offering a vehicle for individual creative expression while remaining an authentic industry experience. We’re really grateful to Emma and her team for facilitating this exciting collaboration.”
The public is invited to view the final results, along with the new LUSH Guide to Knot Wrap book, at a dedicated LUSH knot wrap exhibition in the University House exhibition space at AUB, running throughout May.
Creating a Knot Wrap Revolution: The Art of Passing Forward will run throughout May at University House, AUB Campus. You can learn more about this event on our website.
