when i saw this image of a camera made out of paper, i thought to myself – neat, but nothing really exciting there, looks like something that you can get at a high end, (pseudo) English stationery/gift shop, a fancy with a map print. then i clicked on the link and it brought me to jennifer collier‘s website and i was amazed. i was greeted with this image:

i was captivated by the attention she paid to detail – even to the interior of the typewriter. and i went on to read more about her, learning how, contrary to what i thought, her works are handcrafted, and the materials are all recycled – found maps, teabags and other paper – pieced together “[t]hrough methods of weaving, waxing, bonding, fusing, trapping, embedding and stitching.”

i like this piece because of the idea, the hope for this paper device to actually work. and if it did, imagine. it would mean that this paper singer sewing machine could be used to piece together another paper singer, which then could piece together another paper singer… almost like an amoeba reproduction, expanding in numbers indefinitely and infinitely (so long that there’s unwanted paper).

the garments and shoes are also impressive.. i really wish they were actually wearable

 

 

especially the ones made out of teabags

only realised a few days ago that i haven’t posted about Osborn shoes yet! how my favourite shoe brand slipped my mind i do not know, perhaps because i tell so many people about them that i thought i’ve written about them already.. in any case, Obsorn shoes, founded by Aaron and Carla Osborn, is a project that “combines humanitarian efforts with a fashion project”. every shoe is one-of-a-kind, handcrafted and signed (!) with pride by an artisan from Guatemala City. the project promotes fair trade and re-enchants the production process by preserving the producer’s connection to the product, recognising and remunerating the artisan’s skills and effort. not only so, many of the materials used in making the shoes are reclaimed. some shoes use recycled tires for soles (and some for heel cap), some of the fabric are reclaimed (and/or handwoven), but i must say what i love most about my pair of Osborns (got mine more than a year ago) is the quilted insole. it is the quilted insole that i think is most telling of the effort, attention to detail, and heart that went into the design of the shoe — it shows me exactly how every part of the shoe, down to the insoles(!!) is handcrafted and makes me feel the heart-warming sincerity of the artisan who wants to make sure that my feet are well taken care of.

this (image above) is one of my favourite pieces, and i’m sure it’s one of harng’s favourite too. we both have something for simple shoes that use burlap in its design. love how the burlap contrasts with the denim!

 

i love Osborn’s booties — the cut is amazing. no one does booties quite the way they do it!

 

 

the loafers cut is relatively new (they weren’t around when i bought my pair last year). i like how Osborn reinvents classic cuts (oxfords and loafters) and gives them fresh feel.

 

simple, black, velvet booties

 

this design is Osborn’s collaboration with artist Justine Ashbee launched earlier this year – the first collaboration with artists with more to come. looking forward to the exciting designs!

 

and this is simply my favourite, favourite pair! would have bought without second thoughts if not for the tinge of guilt from buying yet another something i do not need…..

 

my year-old pair of Osborns. still looking good!! Osborns are really worth buying and the ones on sale are a steal! something needs to be done about the crazy shipping rates though. the shipping for this pair of shoes were about half the price of the shoes, if i remember correctly..

“Isang Litrong Liwanag” campaign headed by philanthropist Illiac Diaz turns plastic soda bottles into nifty light bulbs in small homes, which absorbs sunlight and spreads it out inside a house.

what a brilliant idea.

another amazing video by This Is It Collective, this time, their props completely made of cardboard and paper.

 

‘Taste the unwearables’ is a project of Eric Meursing and Marjolein Wintjes (de Culinaire Werkplaats, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) during the Amsterdam international fashion week, summer 2009. They designed especially for this occassion edible fashion accessories and for the grande finale a wedding dress made of edible rhubarb paper, and since then many more edible papers made from vegetables and fruit.

The paper created from the juice of blended plants is laid flat in a de-hyrdrator and later used for a variety of purposes.
Wintjes and Meuring have also used the paper in other projects, promoting the idea of sustainable fashion by creating clothing and accessories with the edible paper.

won’t it be nice, if a whole outfit is created by edible rice paper used by the white rabbit sweets?

nom nom.

news/image credits: toildrops