With the association L'Envol

In Béthune, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, the L’Envol Association transformed a former supermarket into a creative third place dedicated to artistic activities. Committed to social transformation through the arts (theater, dance, and singing), the organization supports around fifteen young people in their path to reintegration.

Within this framework, the apron was chosen as the starting point for a collective workshop. This familiar kitchen object became a medium for exploring group cohesion and for expressing both unity and individuality. The challenge was to design the apron as a space positioned between the notions of uniformity and personal expression.

A geometric visual langage was developed to allow each participant to personalize their apron, regardless of drawing ability. A pre-prepared library of heat-transfer vinyl patterns offered a range of shapes, each associated with a specific flavor (sweet, savory, tangy, etc.), creating a symbolic link between form and taste.

The workshop begins with a questionnaire designed to capture participants’ personal flavor preferences. Their answers guide the selection and composition of shapes applied to each apron, which are then fixed with an iron.

Conceived as a collective ritual, this workshop is intended to be renewed annually at the beginning of the training program. It allows each participant to leave with an apron, a tangible symbol of belonging within the group.