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# Project Description Fragments From A Shrinking Shore Poulami Saha Summary Final work Poulami is a textile and material designer whose practice moves between craft, biodesign, and cultural storytelling. With experience in fashion design and couture, her practice blends traditional craft, experimental processes, and a deep sensitivity to cultural identity. She works intuitively with natural elements and discarded materials, creating thoughtful, expressive surfaces for fashion, interiors, and material innovation. Her approach is research-led, hands-on, and rooted in curiosity about how materials shape human experience. Poulami is a textile and material designer whose practice moves between craft, biodesign, and cul... College Chelsea College of Arts Course MA Textile Design Graduation year 2025 Fragments from a Sinking Shore takes its name from Bengal’s fragile coastal delta, where rising seas, erosion, and pollution are reshaping the landscape and affecting the fishing communities who have lived with these waters for generations. My project began as a response to ocean microplastic pollution and the fashion industry’s role in it, asking whether discarded marine by-products could be turned into meaningful materials instead of waste. Coming from Bengal, fish have always held cultural and emotional weight for me, “মাছে ভাতে বাঙালি” (Machhe Bhate Bengali) is not just a proverb, but a way of life. As climate change threatens both ecosystems and livelihoods, I started to explore what value might be hidden inside something as overlooked as a fish scale. Through material-led experimentation, I developed a range of outcomes from this single source: bio-sequins, fish leather, paper-like sheets, and plastic-like composites for surface and interior use. Each material keeps traces of its origin and shows how waste can be reimagined into something functional and beautiful. At its heart, the project is about circularity, care, and connection. It imagines a future where discarded fish scales become resources for sustainable material systems, while also creating small but meaningful economic opportunities for fishing communities facing displacement due to environmental loss. Fragments from a Sinking Shore brings together biodesign, heritage, and ecology to show how transformation can begin with something humble and how local knowledge can shape new, responsible forms of making. Final work View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery // Scale paper : pressed sheets from fish-scale fiber Formed from the fibrous residue of the scale processing, this paper is both functional and expressive. The fibers create a textured, organic surface with subtle grain and strength. Ideal for writing, printing, packaging, or surface design. It represents the transformation of waste into a new tactile language. // Scale-Leather — flexible, stitch-holding, low-carbon finish Created from fish-scale fiber made with natural polymers, this flexible sheet mimics the tactility of leather while remaining fully bio-based. Its surface is soft, durable, and stitch-friendly, designed for accessories and interior applications where texture and strength meet low-impact materiality. // Scale Composite — structure, clarity, and sheen This semi-translucent panels made with fish-scale composites, dyed with natural food/floral waste to form lightweight, flexible sheets. Its glossy and subtle iridescent surface captures light, offering structural integrity and visual clarity. Intended for panels, installations, products and applied surfaces where light and depth matter. Research and process // Methodology The research followed a material-led methodology centered on fish scales, a marine by-product. Initial studies focused on their biological composition, surface structure, and potential behavior under heat, pressure, and binding. Through cycles of testing, the material revealed multiple functional possibilities. Iteration was key: each sample informed the next, moving the project from isolated experiments to a coherent material system. View Gallery View Gallery View Gallery Share this project Fragments from a Sinking Shore takes its name from Bengal’s fragile coastal delta, where rising seas, erosion, and pollution are reshaping the landscape and affecting the fishing communities who have lived with these waters for generations. My project began as a response to oc... A link to this page has been added to your clipboard Browse related work Climate Emergency Community Futures Materiality Nature & Environment Biomaterial Innovation Textiles
# Links ## Official page - https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/project/687243/cover ## External - https://www.instagram.com/lami.textiles - mailto:lami.poulamisaha@gmail.com - https://forms.arts.ac.uk/client-enquiry-form/ - https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F687243%2Fcover&text=Fragments+From+A+Shrinking+Shore - https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F687243%2Fcover&media=https%3A%2F%2Fportfolio-tools.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2F16121105%2FUntitled-2-1.jpg&description=Fragments+From+A+Shrinking+Shore