Thursday Salute to Originals: Construction Couture
Take a look at the structure you’re in right now. What materials comprise it? Unless you’re in the jungle on a survivalist reality show, we’re betting you’re in a building that has wood, concrete, glass, metal, brick, nuts and bolts, etc. in a number of different combinations. None of these are unusual building materials, of course. This is exactly what you’d expect to find defining a structure. But what happens when these building blocks of construction are used in a different way, in arenas not associated with architecture?
Fashion is no stranger to pushing boundaries. And some pioneering designers have begun infusing traditional building materials into their clothing and accessory designs, in beautiful – and sometimes questionable – ways.
Take for instance wood. A well-known and utilized staple in the construction sector, the fashion world has begun to take notice of its versatility, as well. With all its prized character – warmth, subtle grain, rigidity, tonality – its no wonder wood is being used in place of lux fabrics.
And concrete – something we’re betting you wouldn’t normally connect with fashion – is getting some time on the runway. Its neutral color palette and subtle textures define the structure of select pieces while providing a contrasting raw edge to the design.
Mechanical fasteners are even being incorporated in the couture, where the true functionality of screws and nuts literally keeps clothing and accessories fastened together in a more refined format.
Today, we salute those fashion designers who ignore traditional material categories and transcend structural building materials into the fashion realm.
If fashion can take a cue from architecture by using construction materials as couture, how can architects and interior designers, in turn, combine fashion in new buildings and spaces? We’re not sure, but there does seem to be an overlap between the two worlds. And who knows, maybe the CAD drawings of our backlit onyx feature walls will serve as inspiration for the next high-end textile print? Keep your eyes peeled for it on the runway!
Image credits: Swag Chasers, Haydanhuya, Oddity Mall, Ivanka, Susan Tabak, Tom and Lorenzo