Earlier this year, trendspotter and futurist Jess Kimball Leslie predicted that ethical fashion would become a major trend in 2016. Well, it looks like fashion and sustainability can harmoniously coexist, and one designer is taking a unique approach to eco-friendly designs by using flower waste.
Brooklyn-based Cara Piazza is an artisan and natural dyer who works with florists, restaurants, and even bridal parties to collect unwanted flowers and use them to create clothing and accessories for her line, Calyx. "If I weren’t taking these flowers they would probably go in the garbage," she told The Huffington Post. "The second a flower begins to wilt, it won’t have a good shelf life for the customer, who is unfortunately concerned with the perfection of a first blooming flower."
Each of the pieces in her collection is made using one-of-a-kind textiles and is hand-dyed using only waste, including flowers, non-toxic metals, minerals, and other botanicals. "Synthetic dyes and synthetic dye houses pollute water streams, creating toxic environments for the eco-system," she explains. "Synthetic dyes also contain known carcinogens such as formaldehyde, heavy metals such as zinc and chrome as well as dioxin, which is thought to be a hormone disrupter." The passionate designer hopes to educate consumers and empower them to make wise decisions when it comes to the brands they shop.
Check out some of Piazza's work for Calyx, below.
Would you purchase clothing made using flower waste? Tell us in the comments and shop Calyx at these stockists.
Opening Image: Calyx
