I applaud anyone who not only thinks "outside the box" (god, but I hate that term...please accept my apologies) but rethinks the box itself.
That takes courage, particularly because the online peanut-gallery is so vocal and vicious. But Eindhoven design student Debora Dax has more important issues to address. Her InConTextUre collection celebrates the stuff we generally hit the gym, wear dark colors and spend billions on annually to hide or remove.
Including love handles, stretch marks, cellulite, liver spots, bruises, pimples, bloated beer bellies, warts, patchy dry skin and pubic hair. "It took some time to find the right materials that give the feeling of skin as color, fabric surface and structures, and also ensure that those fabrics work together as a collection," notes the designer. Which they do, thanks to an arsenal of traditional techniques employed in non-boxy ways.
Dax variously employed a tufting machine to create the look of pubic area stubble; layered lycra tights to conjure up liver spots, acne and warts; smeared yellow color on translucent fabric to emulate bruising and dry, flaky skin; replicated pubic hair with synthetic fibers; and made the wearer look large and in charge by manipulating squishy neoprene. "The fabric is quite heavy and it creates the beautiful fat rolls when you fold it," explains the designer about the sweater above which is deliberately distended to look like a beer belly.
Its matching trousers were folded and pock-marked to emulate cellulite, while a matching dress bulges with fabric love-handles. "The skin has a variety and diversity of interesting surfaces, delicate ornaments and beautiful color ranges and gradients," adds Dax. "Why are those skin structures seen as less beautiful? Why do we prefer not to have them on our body?"
- Lesley Scott
PS. I was just kidding about the People of Walmart thing. As much as I love to laugh at them, I also have some mad love for 'em and their body-shame-free, outrageously outre and who-cares-what-stupid-fashion-bloggers-think approach to life.
NOTE: Honoring our humanity - from the handmade arts to addressing body-shaming - and finding a way to use our roots to pave the way forward fashionwise is a signature of the Folkspun fashion tribe. For more of my posts about this tribe, CLICK HERE. To learn more about each of fashion's four mega-tribes that I track, START HERE.
Follow Fashiontribes on TWITTER
Join me on FACEBOOK
Let’s connect on LinkedIn
