Leaves you wanting more

8 February 2012

Folded fashion - folded art. Dior 2007

Folded fashion created by John Galliano for Christian Dior, spring/summer 2007 .

Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century and was popularized outside of Japan in the mid-1900s. In origami you transform a flat sheet of material into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques. There is much speculation about the origin of Origami. While Japan seems to have had the most extensive tradition, there is evidence of an independent tradition of paperfolding in China, as well as in Germany, Italy and Spain among other places. The earliest evidence of paperfolding in Europe is a picture of a small paper boat in Tractatus de sphaera mundi from 1490. There is also evidence of a cut and folded paper box from 1440.

Origami and the art of folding has inspired many fashion designers and continues to do so...

7 February 2012

Sandra Backlund at The Museum

The art of folding and creating sculptural designs is somehting swedish fashion designer Sandra Backlund shares with Joan Sallas. Their work will be featured at The Hallwyl Museum in Stockholm very soon.

Sandra Backlund says that all her shapes come from thinking of the process as a collage. She knits her shapes as she goes, without a pattern or a plan. All of Backlund‘s designs have a clear sculptural quality and one can feel both her technique and imagination in all her work. There is a deep respect for the handicraft process.

"I always start with an idea. Then I begin to experiment with different handicraft techniques and materials. I improvise a lot and allow myself to lose control to see what happens.”