Win some, loose some

I have been contemplating when might be the best time to blog about my entry into the Fashion Less Waste 2011 competition, held by the Australian Museum. Competition entries are now closed, and judging has taken place.

Sadly I didn’t make it to the finals this year, but that’s OK, the open category encourages fashion designers to enter, which clearly, I am not, but it is good to try these things, right?

Fashion Less Waste 2011, aims to encourage a more sustainable fashion industry, to help fashion a less wasteful world. This year, entrants were invited to be inspired by the birds of paradise.

The instructions are to make an outfit that “is entirely, or mostly, made from materials that were originally bought and used for a non-clothing purpose.”

My entry was inspired by the Lesser Bird-of-paradise; Paradisaea minor, distributed throughout forests of northern New Guinea.

Materials used…..

Skirt:

I created the skirt with material from a friend’s unwanted white curtain, the waist band is made from a vintage pillowcase with elastic waist, and the rear is decorated with a second-hand scarf, and a plastic sheet cut into strips.

Undergarment:

The yellow undergarment skirt used to be a canvas chair cover, with a reclaimed zip from my sewing box.

Top:

The base of this top is from red reusable grocery bags. I used a fluffy red for the ‘chest’ panel; the zip at the back of the top is from the same cushion cover. Frills around neckline made with remnants of red reusable grocery bags, and the back is decorated with frills from a table cloth, and the tips of four men’s neckties.

Headpiece fascinator:

My headpiece is made with a shoulder pad, necktie fabric, dress pattern tissue paper, a yellow paper napkin, decorations from a Christmas cracker, a magpie feather, grass from my backyard, and backed with eco-fi Kunin felt (made from recycled plastic bottles) and second-hand hair grips

I’m actually looking forward to seeing the finalists outfits, as it is a very inspirational competition! And maybe I’ll enter again next year

Read more at Recycled Fashion