This project was part of RMIT’s annual showcase for the Melbourne International Garden & Flower Show (MIGFS) in 2023. The theme was “Rewilding Fashion” and our submission won the Dean’s Commendation Award.

DESIGN CONCEPT

For our team’s interpretation of the theme “Rewilding Fashion”, we invite our audience to imagine a post-apocalyptic scenario (possibly brought on by climate change) where humans must rely on the life-giving powers of plants for survival.  Our design concept was the depiction of a warrior figure with an armour made of plants which provide not only the oxygen necessary for human survival but protection from the elements.

We wanted to explore the delicate balance between the gifts which nature provides and the wrath it can bestow upon us. Also, exploring other messages which the theme suggests, such as locality & sustainability, we wanted to use species acquired locally and through foraging to ensure minimal impact on the environment. Techniques such as plant-based textile dying and Shibori-inspired printing also reflect our sustainability commitment.

Our paramount intention was to draw attention to the message that the delicate relationship between humankind and nature is explicitly linked and can be beneficial or destructive. Fashion currently plays a vital role in disrupting this balance, and we must preserve the natural environment and find new ways to harness nature’s gifts.

MOODBOARD

TECHNICAL PROCESS

BASE STRUCTURE FOR 3D FORM

The base structure of our installation was constructed out of bird-wire and was molded to the 3D form or mannequin. From this architecture we attached our panels with zip ties and/or secured Kokodomas plants using steel wire.

PATCHWORK SKIRT

The Boro-inspired skirt was fashioned out of recycled denim garments & eco-dyed silk off-cuts left over from previous projects. We dyed the fabric with foraged ecalyptus leaves and used traditional printing techniques of wrapping silk with leaves and boiling produced an authentic result of textile surface ornamentation.



PLANT SELECTION & FABRICATION

Our selection of plants was based on two criterion local availability & hardiness.

The headpiece, breastplate and boots were all made from both local native species and plants foraged in suburban gardens and parks in Melbourne which meant they do not need to be imported or transported from vast distances reinforcing our intention to minimise the environmental impact of the project.  Aeonium succulents and hardy species such as Lomandra, wax flower plants and ecalyptus leaves ensured longevity past the duration of the exhibition.

Native grasses and small flowering correas were kept fresh by using the Kokodamas technique of wrapping their roots in soil, wet moss and jute twine.  This ensures their survival during the exhibition and after which they can returned to the soil.

UPCYCLYING

The goggles & dust mask was donated and upcycled using copper foil & reflective hologram vinyl.

FINAL INSTALLATION

POST EXHIBITION

After the exhibition, after dismantling our installation, we sorted all the organic materials based on what we could keep and those which needed to go into the compost (including moss and any unwanted dead flowers or non-treated dried flowers).

All the cut native plants were donated to a local artist and most of the intact ornamental dried flowers such as the dried hydrangeas and billy buttons were kept for our homes.  All the aeonium succulents were first placed in water to encourage root growth and re-planted into garden beds. The Kokodama grasses and native correas had their roots removed from their casings of soil, moss and jute twine and were also replanted into garden beds with the casing material recycled and composted.

The bird-wire frame and panels were flattened after been dismantled from the mannequin and large cuts were donate to our neighbors who raise rabbits and chickens whilst any small off-cuts were recycled by our respective Councils.

Other borrowed props such as the goggles and face mask were returned to their original owners or kept as a memento of our MIGFS experience.