FWI: Origami Innovates Fashion

Fashion Week Innovation

Origami is the Ancient art of paper folding, originating in Japan. The challenge is found in making a sculpture, without the use of glue, scissors, or measurement tools. It is a mathematical celebration of shapes, and the power of creativity at its finest.

With such innovation found in paper, it is no surprise that some of the fashion designers have found inspiration in origami as well. 

Christian Dior (John Galliano Haute Couture Collection 2007)

In 2007, John Galliano's Haute Couture Collection was inspired by Madame Butterfly's Cho-Cho-San and her romance with Lieutenant Pinkerton. Models faces were fully painted white with red 'geisha' lips.

Th most  innovative part of his collection, was his use of intricate origami folds and pleats not of paper but of richly embroidered satins and silks. You could almost imagine an origami paper crane, magically coming to life and becoming part of this world.

132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE (“Regeneration and Re-creation”)

132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE is a label created by Issey Miyake and his Reality Lab team. It is a new movement of exploring the possibilities of "A Piece Of Cloth”, inspired by the ancient Japanese art of Origami.

The  clothing is innovative in their use of a mathematical algorithm, (132 5.)

(Explanation of 132 5):

1: Represents a single piece of fabric.

3: Represents a three-dimensional shape.

2: Represents the three-dimensional shape that can be flattened into a two-dimensional form.

5: Represents the fifth dimension. The fifth dimension, is the precise moment when the garment is worn on the body and comes to life. "through the communication among people.” -Issey Miyake

All clothes are made using recycled PET products, sometimes in combination with other recycled fibers.

Salvador Dali's Impact on the Fashion World

Salvador Dali was a famous Spanish Artist, who fashioned the way of a Surrealist Lifestyle.

He impacted the fashion world in many ways, collaborating with creme de la creme of the fashion world. From Vogue to Dior, his collaborations were loud, and recieved great acclaim and severe criticism. 

His own style was exotic, with obvious Arabic roots, he loved extravagance and lavish materials. Never one to blend anywhere, he sported an unforgettable mustache that defied gravity. 

                                        DALI and VOGUE

Dali was comissioned to do several VOGUE cover illustrations and it is 
interesting to see classic "Dali Style" with a fashion twist. Salvador Dali 
even acted as Guest Editor, for one issue of VOGUE.

                                      DALI and DIOR

Dali collaborated with Dior to create a vision of what women would look like in 2045.
This mint green gown was titled, Costume for 2045. 
It was a fashion statement predicting future women as over civilized and would need a crutch for moral and spiritual support.

Amusing enough, mint green is currently "trendy" and a "moral crutch" 
seems rather handy for a society booming with powerful women. One 
thing I find interesting was his choice of the dress silhouette. It is rather 
conservative for Dali, and unimaginative in the sense that it represents 
the past more than the future. 

                                 DALI and SCHIAPARELLI

Dali collaborated with fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, creating a 
white silk gown with a giant red lobster painted by himself. He also created 
a shoe-shaped hat, a belt, perfume bottles and numerous textile designs.

Such collaborations were frowned upon by Art critics and viewed as blatant acts of commercialism. The Surrealists were growing increasingly suspicious of him, coining an anagram of Dalí's name, "Avida Dollars". Dali defenders argue that his intent was simply to expand Surrealism in all ways. 

Dali was known for his surreal paintings but besides being a painter, he was also a craftsman. He dabbled in making sculptures, shooting photos and contributing in the different areas of the fashion industry.The argument of whether he sold out or was simply seeking to expand Surrealism, is neither important nor necessary. Fashion is Art and the cross over was a natural progression.

2014 Academy Awards Style

Kim Kardashian Murders her Pink Dior

 

Kim Kardashian is a beautiful girl with some questionable fashion choices. However, when she showed up to the Jimmy Kimmel Show, wearing a pink dress from Dior 2014 Spring Collection, cut in half and backwards, you know I would have something to say about it. 

Although she has admitted to cutting up her dress, it has never been publicly stated that she was also wearing it backwards. However, anyone who knows Dior and especially their 2014 Spring line you know their zippers are located in the front. This collection is elegant but seductive, and the peek-a-boo leg through the zipper is a flirty yet elegant way Dior has mastered femininity, yet again! 

My only question is, why wear Dior if you simply want to change it into a High School craft project?

Dior is perfection. From the stitch work, materials, to design concept, you are experiencing luxury to its fullest. Designer Couture, is pieces of ART. The horrible cropped top, stitched with bubbling, shortening of the sleeves, hem length, flipping front to back, and disregarding the open zipper and flirty black shorts is Art mutilation. This dress was murdered.