As many of you know, I own fish skin shoes, boots and a hand bag and an elk skin cuff - all purchases from Iceland where these are natural materials and the designers are getting the most out of the creature by using as many parts as possible. It makes good sense to use what we can of the creatures we eat and it is a long tradition in many cultures.
There are a bevvy of contemporary designers taking the anthropomorphic route as featured in the Webecoist article on Extreme Eco Fashion: 10 recycled Critter Collections. Combining taxidermy, industry by-products and roadkill, these 10 designers present collections that explore the deep connection between animal and human, hunted and hunter.
I used to tease my cat that I was going to skin her and use her pelt as a fur collar after she died. I didn't do it, but maybe I should have;)
15 comments:
I am familiar with the idea of getting the most out of the creature you kill. I grew up in a family of hunters. Not only do we use the deer meat for all of our red meat meals (steaks, meatballs, burgers, etc.) but we also use its other body parts as well. Although we do not wear these parts we do display them throughout the house. My dad's house is filled with deer head mounts, turkey feathers, and even a bear rug. So even though we may not wear these creatures we do use them as a kind of interior design (though not conventional by any means). The website is full of oddities that are quite interesting but I don't think I'd ever wear them. What an interesting take on extreme green.
While I don't mind many of the designs from the Webecoist article aesthetically, I wonder if the ways in which these animals are preserved are enviromentally friendly. I'm sure that chemicals must be used to turn a bird's dead body into a shoe that will not decompose. As animal bodies are natural and will eventually decompose and be returned to the environment's natural cycle, I wonder if some of these designs are actually doing more harm then good in the long run.
I think the taxidermy "eco-movement" is a little much. Although I understand that it is recycling and using as many components as possible, but it seems a little odd in my eyes. There are just so many people that actually would wear these things, which begs me to ask, what happens to the leftovers? In terms of artwork, these things are really interesting, especially the pigs by Wim Delvoye. All of this work reminds me of things that are sold online on etsy, which is a great portal for original artwork and reselling old items for a new person to treasure.
I think this is an absolutely absurd form of design. It is really taking eco-friendly to an extreme, unnecessary level. Even though these animals have died of natural causes it is still very disrespectful and cruel to display their remains in a fashionable manor. My boyfriend's family is very involved in the sport of hunting. Their basement is "decorated", i guess you could say, with heads and furs of animals they have proudly killed. I for one think this is extremely creepy and flat out wrong. I hate when my boyfriend goes hunting and i pray he always comes home empty handed. I give two huge thumbs down for recycling creatures. Fashion will seriously be a lost cause if someday it comes down to this.
As much as I want to appreciate the innovation and audacity that these products display, I cannot even begin to see the value in them because I find it repulsive. I can't bear to think about my old pets being turned into "art" or accessories, and to be honest I find it a little disrespectful to their lives. I feel the best way to honor and respect the life of a pet and companion is to give it a proper burial, not to turn it into a conversation piece for the subway ride to work. So while I believe this absolutely pushes the boundaries of fashion and innovation, I simply do not agree with the extreme measures of accessories this site offers.
To be honest, I think that website is disgusting. I could never wear my dead pet as a fashion accessory. I understand people kill animals to make fur coats all the time. However, there is a difference between putting your pet's head on your shoe or on your finger versus turning the fur of an animal into a jacket. I am very disturbed by this website, this is taking green to a whole unnecessary extreme. Someone has a very disgusting mind to even think of this.
The first thing I noticed when going to the extreme eco-fashon site was the really creepy hamster comb. Freaky! Then as I scrolled down, I was even more creeped out by the hoof shoes! Thats when I thought I had seen it all, but the rat headbands are crazy! I did my co-op with a girl who handmade headbands and we definitely thought of that idea!
While I am not a fan of these designs, I must give credit to these designer's creativity. They definitely took recycling things in our environment to the extremes!
I have to agree that a lot of the designs on this site kind of creep me out. I have an uncle that is really into hunting and fishing so I can relate in the importance of utilizing the entire animal. However, I believe there has to be a better way, one that nurtures the environment instead of simply creating a conversational piece. I also believe Ericka brought up a good point that the chemicals and techniques used to preserve these bodies must have some negative impact on the environment. Dead bodies are meant to decompose and help fertilize the earth, not be covered in synthetics and preserved for the aesthetic enjoyment of a few. Although these designs are innovative, I do not believe they are actually sustainable or environmentally conscious.
Being a city girl, I'm not really sure about these "eco-friendly" designs. Dead animals really creep me out, but then again that is part of the art of these pieces. I guess one of the main points of these objects is to creep the viewer out, and it definitely does. The only things i can see myself wearing and am not completely creeped out by is the turquoise humming bird wing pin and the fur rings (the ones without a tail). While I think the horse hoof shoes are really cool and innovative, and could be used for runway fashions, I don't see anyone actually wearing them outside of the context of art. The website as a whole was really sort of scary, but definitely opened my eyes to an art form that I have never seen before.
Although I believe it is valid to utilize every part of an animal as not to waste its life, I find these designs quite vulgar. There is an enormous difference between using the skin of an animal to make a garment and using the poor creatures little body as a fashion statement. Taking green fashion to this extreme is simply perverse.
To be honest I think this idea is a bit extreme. I could never image wearing my pet as fashion. I understand everyone is all about recycling and turning green but this is taking it a little too far. Then again, it is that persons own decision, however I know I would never purchase anything made from a old pet as much as I do like fur clothing, this is not particularly my style.
I think this entire website is just creepy. I found myself becoming more and more shocked as I scrolled down the page. I am not an animal person but I certainly don't like these designs made out of animals bodies. However everything is very interesting to look at, and even somewhat comical as in the horse hoof shoes. Also I doubt the intention of these designers was to create an eco-friendly product, but to create an interesting design by any means.
The idea of using all of an animal and not letting anything going to waste is definitely an idea that has basis and history to it. It also tends to be an idea I agree with. However, I am interested to know the actual 'green' steps to such a process. Decomposition and treatment factors seem a more radical way to reduce waste. Why not just use the animal's natural decomposition in an even more natural fashion. What about using animals as a natural occurring fertilizer, or even a means of energy, like how some manufacturing companies use trash as an energy source.
While these may not be direct relation to the fashion industry they play a role in both production and fabric agriculture.
I think there are better ways to be "green". I find it disturbing to display these animals this way. Although I understand the idea and the meaning behind it, not being wasteful, I am sure that many chemicals go into preserving these animals that might not be eco friendly and are harmful to the environment. It might just be better to not go to these extremes.
The idea is nice, but I have to be honest... this creeps me out. I know I wear leather, but I try really hard not to think about it. I am not a vegetarian, but I wish I was. I hate thinking about how much animals suffer. I hate even putting mouse traps in my apartment, and when I did catch a mouse on a sticky trap, I made my boyfriend go set it free somewhere far away. It is thinking about the animal that really gets to me. If I don't think about what I am wearing or eating then I can get through it. However, these fashion items very obviously remind you of the animal that they once were, and while they are beautiful I cannot handle thinking about their past lives which makes me sad.
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