Matérialistes

Antonin Mongin

Hair Weaving

Antonin Mongin is a textile artisan and designer known for his innovative use ofhair as a weaving material. After earning a Master’s degree in Textiles andMaterials from the École des Arts Décoratifs, he pursued a doctorate at EnsadLab,focusing on the theme: “The Craft of Cut Hair: Hair as a Material for Creative Textile Design.”His research led him to develop creative methods for adapting hairto traditional textile techniques like knitting, weaving, and felting, as well ascontemporary approaches such as screen printing and 3D printing.

In 2021, Mongin opened his own workshop, where he creates bespoke pieces fora variety of clients, including individuals, hair stylists, haute couture houses(accessories and leather goods), jewelry designers, and interior decorators. Hisdesigns feature materials like hair, horsehair, sisal, and raffia fibers, crafted intocustom items such as lighting fixtures and room dividers.

Mongin collects hair through donations, which he then processes using weaving,knitting, or Jacquard looms. Each of his creations is unique, reflecting the distinctqualities of the hair used. Embracing hair as a plentiful natural fiber, he also founda way to repurpose small or split ends by developing hair powder. This versatilematerial is used across many of his projects, enabling him to create filaments,print textile patterns, and even produce jewelry through 3D printing.