How do artists use fabric to critique neoliberal capitalism?
In contemporary art, fabric has emerged as a powerful medium for critiquing neoliberal capitalism. Artists employ textiles—ranging from hand-stitched embroidery to large-scale installations—to expose labor exploitation, consumerism, and economic inequality. For instance, some recreate corporate logos in fragile threads to symbolize systemic fragility, while others repurpose discarded fast-fashion garments to highlight waste and worker oppression.
Collective textile projects, like protest banners or community quilts, democratize dissent by involving marginalized voices. By reclaiming traditionally "domestic" crafts, these works challenge capitalism’s devaluation of care labor. Through materiality and metaphor, fabric art subverts neoliberal narratives, stitching resistance into every thread.
