Rosie Broadhead

Skin Series, by Rosie Broadhead

Skin Series is a line of therapeutic undergarments exploring the interaction between our clothing and the skin. The pieces introduce biotechnological textile innovations to the market, into our wardrobe, onto our skin as they are industrially knitted from yarns containing active ingredients such as seaweed, zinc or vitamin E. Those ingredients hold antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties, encourage cell renewal or improve the skin’s immune system. Thanks to its porous nature, our skin allows the active elements to gradually permeate into our body. They are also compatible with our natural environment – as opposed to most currently used antibacterial fabric finishes – and therefore another valuable piece of the sustainable fashion puzzle. Building on these scientific insights, Skin Series pioneers new ways of probiotic collaboration between fashion, the human biome and its environment. The brand considers their pieces as an extension of the skin and goes to show that our body’s surface is not a superficial thing.

During the MAD residency, Skin Series aims to expand its product offering and engage with Brussels based performers who will wear the pieces in order to communicate the ongoing research. The goal is to evolve into a knowledge platform providing textile services to other brands as well.

Rosie Broadhead got a bachelor in fashion design at the University Of Westminster in 2015 and went on to work for different fashion brands, such as CHEREVICHKIOTVICHKI, Perfect Moment, Aitor Throup and most notably Rapha Racing cycling wear. There she further developed her keen interest for R&D of sustainable fabrics and production processes, which led to the decision to get a masters degree in Material Futures at Central Saint Martins in London.After graduating in 2019 Rosie founded Skin Series in 2020 and in August of the same year, she started to work as a textile scientist at Ghent University in a collaborative research project with microbiologist Dr Chris Callewaert. Forever interested in how science and technology will influence the future of fashion, Rosie’s current research focuses on the skin microbiome and probiotics therapy in textile which utilises technology that works in synergy with the body. 

Rosie’s work has been showcased during Milan Design Week, Dutch Design Week, London Design Festival and exhibited at Museum De Fundatie, The Design Museum, Naturalis Museum. Her work has been featured by the BBC and in publications including Forbes, British Vogue, i-D and The New York Times. She also co-founded Surface Tension, a platform centred around realising the positive potential of materials.