Hannah-Lee in her studio at 203h Karangahape Road. by Tim D.
Hannah-Lee Jade Turner
Hannah-Lee Jade Turner, born in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, is a textile artist and designer whose practice bridges art, ecology, and material innovation.
Her journey with using waste as a creative material began at the age of five, when she participated in the Trash 2 Fashion competition — an early exploration into transforming discarded matter into meaningful works of art.
Today, her creative research extends beyond textiles into the realm of biomaterials, where she explores the transformation of plastic-based textile waste into new mycelium composites and the cultivation of bacterial cellulose materials for future design applications. Through these experiments, she explores how waste materials can act as feedstock for living organisms, transforming pollution into regenerative matter.
Guided by an enchanting childlike wonder, her work contemplates the mysteries of the universe while maintaining a deep reverence for the ancient earth. Her deep connection to Aotearoa’s landscapes — and the living systems that sustain them — profoundly shapes her artistic philosophy.
Central to her vision is a commitment to creating works that embody ethical and regenerative design principles, inviting deeper reflection on how we live with and within our materials.
By studying natural processes — growth, decay, adaptation — she translates these rhythms into her art, infusing her works with a sense of the world’s quiet intelligence.
Hannah-Lee Jade Wears
A two-part approach — Garments + Installation
Focusing on genderless silhouettes that move with the body and adapt to many purposes — from dense forest to electric dance floor — each garment celebrates movement, colour, and joy within the human form and its natural environments.
Inspired by the Japanese principle of wabi-sabi, a worldview that honours imperfection and natural evolution, Hannah-Lee Jade embraces a philosophy of care, repair, and appreciation over perfection.
Aiming for ecological design, the label experiments with alternative sourcing — from post-consumer textiles to deadstock fabrics — and integrates stories of transformation into each piece. Every garment carries its own material history, encouraging deeper connection and mindful wear.