Caught On Tape

Cassettes get a second life - and you get a new tie.

December 9th, 2009

It’s not just vinyl records that are having a comeback; go to any indie concert or local record store and you’ll find a stack of cassette tapes, fresh from the recording studio.

But Sonic Fabric takes the nostalgia a step further—to your neck.

Brooklyn-based artist Alyce Santoro grew up surrounded by cassette tape on, of all places, her father’s boat (he used a strand of it to figure out the direction of the wind). Fast forward a few years and she has a light bulb moment, realizing that cassette tapes could be woven into a fabric.

The result is Sonic Fabric, a collection of ephemera made out of onetime mixtapes. She’s created banners, sculptures, and tunics out of it, but her latest project—a series of neckties created in collaboration with designer Julio Cesar—just might be her coolest. In two sizes (medium and standard) and three colors (black, gray, and dark brown), the ties are anything but corporate.

But don’t mourn the loss of a few good Phil Collins and MC Hammer tapes; just run a tape head down your tie for a little bit of playback.

Visit sonicfabric.com for more info.

REBECCA WILLA DAVIS

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Comments

There are 5 comments for this article.

KASEY 12/09/09 @ 5:27 p.m.

this fabric is amazing you can actually listen to it! you just have to kill a walkman. take out it's magnetic playhead and rub the fabric along it. it's all jumbled and scattered but it's still REALLY rad!

CAMERON 12/09/09 @ 6:09 p.m.

It can't be soft in any way. can it? felt is made out of plastic bottles. that stuff isnt very soft. I wouldnt want a shirt made out of it.

THE FLEETING ENDS 12/21/09 @ 11 a.m.

This gives recycle a whole new name. Can I request which cassette I want made into my very own shirt?

THE FLEETING ENDS 12/23/09 @ 7:50 p.m.

Genius idea. Can I send in a self-made mix in exchange for a tie?

TOPFLYTE 01/11/10 @ 3:11 a.m.