Lynn Harris is an exceptionally talented textile designer with a particular focus on quilting.
Her passion lies in upcycling various textiles, breathing new life into discarded materials to create stunning, one-of-a-kind artworks.
Through her collaboration with KANCAN Jeans, Lynn crafted a remarkable piece that exemplifies her unique approach to sustainable design.
She ingeniously upcycled abandoned jeans,
blending them with an array of fabrics to produce a truly extraordinary work of art that showcases her creativity and commitment to sustainability.

 - Tell us about yourself (as an artist)

I am Lynn Harris, a textile artist with roots in traditional quilting.
I connect the past and present and honor the beauty of everything handmade.
My work often evolves dramatically from start to finish of a piece and I find just as much pleasure in the process as in the completed work 

- What are you thinking when you create art?

One of my focuses is finding ways to use every last scrap of material and minimize waste

- What does denim mean to you?

I love denim as a material because of its versatility and its history.
Denim was created as a hardwearing fabric and was eventually used in making jeans that were worn in California gold mines and had to withstand hard physical labor.
A denim garment can be worn many times and be mended and even when no longer usable as a garment can have parts that can be reused in something else.

Another thing I like about denim is how it crosses class boundaries.
The same fabric originally worn by working class laborers has been used to create high end fashion styles and has long become a wardrobe staple for people of all backgrounds

- What medium did you use?

In this quilt, I was happy to be able to utilize some of the classic jean styling such as faded pocket, worn seams, and frayed hems as a way to honor the history of the fabric.
Using these denim pieces combined with other vibrant fabric scraps.

- What is the title of your art?

This piece is called 'Gold Rush'

- What’s the inspiration behind your Kancan X Artists project?

I created a quilt, something that also traditionally celebrates people's histories and could have been used by anyone regardless of their social standing.
In reference to the first broad use of blue jeans and the beginning of denim as a clothing staple

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