Alessandra Payne dba Salvage & Shine was inspired by the story The Emperor’s New Clothes to create this trash couture outfit. The Emperor’s New Clothes is a story that analyzes the dangers of blindly chasing status and fashion trends and empathizes the importance of being honest and dressing with integrity.
Fast fashion is reckless and environmentally irresponsible. Apparel is often made by oppressed persons who manufacture the piece using carcinogenic (toxic) materials and chemicals. Consumers of fast fashion pieces often purchase these pieces in an effort to follow an expensive couture trend. But, there is no need to follow trends that harm the planet and endanger people and animals.
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As a wearable artist and eco-conscious jewelry designer, Alessandra Payne believes it is necessary to support designers who make quality clothing and apparel from sustainable, upcycled, and natural fibers using artisanal and eco-conscious design methods.
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Always remember, fashion is wearable art expressed as clothing. When purchasing clothing as art, you should support artisanal designers who add a piece of their heart and soul into each piece. With the world replete of natural fibers and materials, we need to source and select sustainable materials that can be mended or restored. Plastic has no place in fashion design. The material is not breathable and is devastating our ecosystem and micro biome.
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The trash couture outfit was intentionally created using single use materials that are commonly dumped in the landfills. Salvage & Shine's Trash Couture Outfit is titled The Empress’ New Clothes and consists of the following five pieces. This outfit is now on exhibit at BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake, NY.
The Empress’ Robe Materials: Trash bags, duct tape, wooden skewers (bracing), faux fur trim, shipping tape, thread, adhesive velcro, and Rottweiler fur
The Empress’ Slippers Materials: rubber (alternative) slippers (from a discount store), thread, duct tape, trash bags, shipping tape, double-sided tape, fashion push pins, soda can pull tab/straw holder, and fast fashion aluminum chain
The Empress' Handbags (Formal and Casual) Materials: Paper Straws, shipping tape, duct tape, double-sided tape, cardboard, trash bags, and Rottweiler fur. The Formal bag has faux fur trim and plastic handbag handles commonly used in fast fashion handbag manufacturing companies.
The Empress’ Jewelry (Waistband, Necklace, and Earrings) Materials: Aluminum metal, salvaged beads (plastic, paper, and metal), soda can pull tab/straw holder, fast fashion aluminum chain, and stainless steel and metal alloy findings, and salvaged silicone earring backings
The Empress’ Headpiece Materials: Plastic Straws, Salvaged beads (glass, marcasite, and plastic) Aluminum foil, Duct tape, soda can pull tab/straw holder, fast fashion aluminum chain, rhinestone trim, thread, double-sided tape, shipping tape, trash bags
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Special Acknowledgments
Special thank you to my women owned business warriors crew Kema, Flavia, Danica, and Lisa for their design counsel; and, an extra special thank you to Kema, Lisa, and Danica and for donating couture trash materials. Special acknowledgement to my family dog, Stone Lucas, for the seasonal shed of Rottweiler fur which stuck to the tape that was used to create this trash couture outfit. No animals were harmed while producing this outfit.