Blog: April 2015

Pret-A-Porter 2015

Every other year, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) matches up teams made of architectural and interior designers with building product manufacturers.

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Each design team is made up of five participants who are challenged to design and produce an outfit out of typical materials provided by the manufacturer, emphasizing sustainability. The theme for this year’s show was Future: Undefined.

The BRS team was paired with Shaw Contract Group—a commercial carpeting and flooring manufacturer. We decided to craft our ensemble from carpeting, using carpet backing material and thread.

Inspiration for our design came from the idea of combining traditional practices from cultures around the world with futuristic innovation. We called it Culture Intertwined.
The base of the dress was made using the carpet backing material. We cut the product into hexagons of various sizes, sewed them together and formed an edgy, structured form.

To incorporate the thread aspect of the carpeting, the team decided to produce a lace-like form that draped from the back of the dress, over the shoulder of the model and down the front of the dress. To get this desired look with the thread, we used a method called needle tatting.

The show was held at City Hall, an events venue in downtown Denver, and was packed to the brim with designers across the board. It was a night filled with aerial dancers, a mashup violinist and extraordinarily innovative fashion.