Cooper Hewitt Field Trip

The exhibition is effective in its unique approach recyclable resources with the use of modern handmade technologies. Some designs still held onto the technology of time-honored handmade work. The gallery featured a body of work that consisted of tabletop accessories and handbags that integrated design elements from each designer. These accessories were made from silk selvage scraps that came from Luisa Cevese, while the appliqués from recycled saris featured were by Christina Kim. The designs showcased a diversity in fabrication in which, were woven from kibiso. Kibiso is a luxury fiber that was created by Reiko Sudo, who used pieces of a silk cocoon. This modern, immaculate and divine exhibition curated by Matilda McQuaid and Susan Brown was clearly well thought out. Each piece is not only arresting, but it also provokes its viewers to be more conscientious about reducing waste.

Designer Reiko’s kibiso stripe piece resonates with anyone with a background in fashion. It’s absolutely incredible hand woven textile. Upon observation of the textile one would think it resembles cotton or even the synthetic fiber polyester. The textile in fact is a plain woven raw silk fabric that integrates the luxury fiber kibiso. It’s also a fabric hand woven by the Tsuruoka Fabric Industry Cooperative in Yamagata, Japan. The modern piece is approximately 325.1 x 50.8 cm.

     The appliqué basted onto scraps is another piece that can also resonate with designers and even fashion design students. The piece is reminiscent of a muslin drape for garments. The appliqués were in fact basted onto base cloth, which is most likely a cotton fabric. Appliqués that were applied so intricately were done by an artisan in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. These designs were done for Kim’s dosa company.

      Among the many pieces that were equally inspiring Kim’s design of the Eungie skirt. It was done using a satyajit color. It was also produced by Kim’s dosa company. This skirt was a part of her spring 2008 collection.