“Shisha” dress

This "bat" dress or "boubou" dress is constructed from a magnificent vintage embroidery from Rajahstan , framed by some beautiful pieces of printed fabrics , embedded in a recycled small check shirt.

It was by composing this range of textiles where flash colors contrast and combine with other more sober shades that I was inspired to create this unique dress. And before I had the honor of reworking these beautiful fabrics in my studio, I spent years collecting and studying the fabrics and the stories they tell. This deep interest in combining textiles of all kinds is the basis of my creative process.

The embroidery patch with encrusted mirrors called " shishas " comes from the breastplate of a recycled vintage Indian dress . He is from Rajasthan, northern India.

A second-hand mottled men's shirt was dismantled to construct this dress. Scraps of fabric from my old creations were assembled to make the patchworks and embroidery on the front and back of the dress.

It is the reuse of fabrics that allowed me to create this new assembly.

No textile material from my workshop is thrown away, the realization of this piece is fundamentally connected to my upcycling approach.

On the back, at the bottom of the dress, I myself made an embroidery by applying thin strips of Indian block print with the sewing machine following the lines of the checks of the cotton shirt .

The cut of this dress is rather flared from bottom to top , perfectly symmetrical, without darts at chest level. Its rather scooped neckline falls slightly on the shoulder. It can also be worn with wool tights and a black turtleneck undershirt during the winter seasons.

Made with great care and finesse, this unique piece, entirely handmade , required six hours of work, from researching the fabrics, through the composition of the patchwork to the manufacturing stages.

List of handcrafted and/or upcycling textiles:

• Vintage Rajasthani embroidery in cotton with encrusted mirrors
• Reused printed cotton scraps
• Scraps of Indian block print
• Upcycled thick cotton shirt
• Size XXL – 46/48
• Mid-length dress
• Perfectly symmetrical
• Black suede binding at the neckline
• High-end finishes
• Dry clean only
• Iron at low temperature

Models / Muses:

Alex, puppeteer and artist for the Culture of Peace

Marianne, artist and author of the blog Mulakozè