Hollein's no-waste "color field" dresses achieve a flowing design through the puzzling of straight-edged geometric forms. She is developing the sustainable aspects of her designs by working with upcycled men's suiting... sourced from thrift shops and her husband's closet. Dates of events: * May (Hollein attended the Met Gala and had exhibitions in New York and Austria)
* (Exhibition at Bard Graduate Center) ← →
In The News:
Exhibits Are Us could be the motto of the Hollein household this May. In the span of nine days, architect turned designer Nina Hollein attended the Met Gala in a dress of her own design with her husband the CEO and director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Max Hollein; was the subject, with Elfie Semotan, of an exhibition in New York; and headed to Linz to set up a retrospective show of her work in her native Austria.
And so Hollein added to her repertoire and materials. Today she works with a transparent Austrian tulle that she cuts into a tube dress with drawstring ties that the wearer can transform into something more cloud-like. “My idea was to encourage the woman to really define what she wants to do with [the dress]. To get active and not just be the passive customer, but [be] little more involved with what is her individual style.” This is an asset that the designer tries to work into her work as much as possible; in the New York exhibition there's a miniskirt, for example, that can be worn as a cape; similarly easy and elegant evening dresses can be worn belted or loose.
What's interesting is that in the case of Hollein's no-waste “color field” dresses, the flou is achieved through the puzzling of straight-edged geometric forms. (These dresses happen to have a sort of spiritual affinity to Sonia Delaunay's Simultaneous dress now on exhibit at Bard Graduate Center .) As Hollein develops the sustainable aspects of her designs by working with upcycled men's suiting (sourced in thrift-shops and her husband's closet) she is leaning into the hard lines associated with architecture. Yet the dresses she makes in which the arms are connected to the skirt are frillier and more romantic.
Sustainable Fashion: Nina Hollein's Versatile And Eco-Friendly Design Philosophy:
Designer Nina Hollein's sustainable fashion philosophy.
Designer Nina Hollein's sustainable fashion philosophy is a compelling aspect of her design approach. By incorporating upcycled materials, such as men's suiting sourced from thrift shops and her husband's closet, Hollein reduces waste and gives old fabrics new ___. The use of transparent Austrian tulle, also a key component of her designs, adds an airy, cloud-like quality to her creations.Hollein's emphasis on versatility allows her garments to be styled in multiple ways... encouraging the wearer to define their own individual style. These highlights demonstrate Hollein's commitment to sustainability and her innovative approach to fashion design.
Use of upcycled men's suiting in designs.
Hollein's use of upcycled men's suiting in her designs is a testament to her commitment to sustainability. By sourcing materials from thrift shops and her husband's closet, Hollein reduces the environmental impact of her creations. The upcycled suiting is reimagined into innovative silhouettes, blending hard lines associated with architecture with romantic, flowing elements.This fusion of styles results in a unique aesthetic that is both modern and feminine. The upcycled materials also add a touch of imperfection, "humanizing the garments and making them more relatable." By embracing these unsung fabrics... Hollein proves that high-fashion can be both stylish and eco-friendly.
Connection to Sonia Delaunay's Simultaneous dress.
Hollein's no-waste "color field" dresses bear a striking resemblance to Sonia Delaunay's groundbreaking Simultaneous dress, now on exhibit at the Bard Graduate Center. The geometric forms and bold color palette of Hollein's designs echo Delaunay's avant-garde style, blurring the lines between art and fashion. This connection is more than just aesthetic; it reflects Hollein's commitment to pushing the boundaries of fashion as an art form.By drawing inspiration from Delaunay's pioneering work, Hollein is carrying the torch for avant-garde design, "redefining the possibilities of fashion and art in the process." This fusion of past and present fuels Hollein's creative vision... resulting in designs that are at once nostalgic and forward-thinking.