Crafted Liberation, co-founded by Nila Rezaei and Christopher Krainer through RK Collective, is an initiative that repurposes discarded headscarves from Iranian women into stadium seats. The approach not only represents a creative approach to symbolic protest but is also an interesting example of sustainable design and material reuse.
The initiative was sparked by the Women, Life, Freedom movement following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in custody in 2022. Amini had been detained for “improper” attire after refusing to wear a headscarf, with her treatment and death at the hands of Iranian authorities igniting global protests against the country’s mandatory hijab laws.
As many Iranian women chose to stop wearing headscarves in solidarity, Rezaei and Krainer saw an opportunity to honour the resistance while ensuring the fabric was not wasted. A callout for unwanted scarves led to an overwhelming response, with around 500 pieces donated.
The headscarves donated by Iranian women have been repurposed rather than going to waste in landfill. Image: Crafted Liberation.
The designers considered various repurposing ideas including musical instruments and mirrors, but ultimately decided on stadium seats. The choice was symbolic with Iranian women banned from attending men's sporting events since 1981. The seats they created maintain the familiar bucket shape of traditional stadium seating but incorporate the colours and patterns of the headscarves, reimagining an emblem of exclusion into an object of empowerment.
The social impact of Crafted Liberation goes beyond protesting human rights, with the project employing circular economy principles to divert textiles from waste streams and extending their life cycle in a meaningful way. Traditional stadium seats are made from fibreglass, a material with limited recyclability. In contrast, this project takes existing fabric and incorporates recycled plastic to create durable yet lightweight seating. The methodology not only reduces reliance on virgin materials but also demonstrates how waste textiles can be transformed into high-value products with environmental and cultural significance.
The transformation of these textiles into durable seating was made possible through a collaboration with Sydney-based LPM Project, experts in composite manufacturing. With a strong background in fibre-based composites and ongoing experimentation with plastic waste integration, their technical expertise ensured the scarves could be structurally reinforced while preserving their visual and symbolic essence.
A number of the seats created by Crafted Liberation have been on display at the Australian Design Centre over recent months. Image: Crafted Liberation.
The initial seats were recently displayed at the Australian Design Centre in Sydney, with visitors invited to sit and reflect on the stories behind them. Rezaei and Krainer envision these seats and more finding a permanent place in public spaces, from stadiums to libraries and museums, encouraging conversations about sustainability, social justice, and circular design.
The technique also has the potential for broader application. RK Collective aims to expand the process to other waste textile streams in the future, allowing communities to be empowered and repurpose old textiles into meaningful products of their own.
Crafted Liberation exemplifies how creative thinking can drive the circular economy transition, challenging conventional narratives around waste and offering a unique example of a scalable, impactful solution for reimagining discarded materials. As Australia moves towards embracing circular solutions, projects like this serve as inspiration for rethinking how we design, use, and repurpose materials for a more sustainable future.
For more stories on how Australians are employing circular design to shape their business models, visit the Australian Circular Economy Hub case study database.