Andrea Zittel

Zittel formed A–Z Smockshop in the summer of 2006 as part of her ongoing Concepts for Living project. Smockshop was and is an effort inclusive of multiple makers, devised to investigate the relationships between function, fashion, design, life, commerce, and art. Using a basic pattern that Zittel provides, men and women sew smocks that they personalize with any materials they find suitable. In addition to the conceptual weight of the project, it is also intended to be a source of income for struggling artists in the Los Angeles area. Each smock is sold with the suggestion that the buyer wear the smock every day for the entire season. Smockshop becomes a performance perpetuatedby each participating smocker.

The smock itself holds special significance as a work garment. It was adopted by followers of William Morris as the uniform of social protest and a symbol of the simple life.