Weedrobes: Sustainable dresses from fruits, weeds, flowers and leaves

Nature has inspired many artists, whether they are painters or dress designers. Some dress designers have moved further from conventional fabrics for making a dress to the use of fruits, vegetables, weeds and flowers. Designers like Andy Goldsworthy and Nicole Dextras specialize in designing nature inspired and nature involved clothes. The designers have made an effort to make sure that these outfits are wearable, yet fashionable and also close to the Mother Nature.

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These dresses are constructed out of vegetable matter. 'Weedrobes’ is a collection of painstakingly worked, fragile gowns, coats and suits by the nature inspired Canadian artist Nicole Dextras. The perishable dresses are made keeping in mind the trend and its interpretation. The collection emphasizes that such eco-friendly dresses are innovative enough to bring about a drastic change in contemporary fashion.

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Plants from different locations and some exclusive specimens from the designer’s own garden were chosen for designing the dresses. After finishing a garment, the ‘Weedrobe’ is then photographed on a model to make the concept public.

Materials used in the designs made by Nicole are wild rose, willow, dogwood, ivy beads, Japanese knotweed, laurel, magnolia, yucca leaves, camellia flowers, lilac flowers, thorns, hydrangea flowers, kale leaves, crab apples, gunnera leaves, beans, Savoy cabbage, rediccio, red and white cabbage, Ligularia dentata leaves, rosehips and various other leaves.

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The designer weaved the leaves together to let the shape of the plant speak for itself. A pair of comfortable footwear made from folded skunk cabbage leaves complete an outfit.

The artist explains,

The Weedrobes philosophy is based on being a free thinker, creating one’s own sense of style while also raising awareness about the impact of industry on our eco-system. Our most effective tool for change is for consumers to demand more equitable products. It may be impractical to wear clothing made with leaves but our future depends on the creation of garments made from sustainable resources.

Via: Treehugger