While this Toolgrrl Designs Blood Countess Art Dress is made of gloves--a seemingly innocuous albeit unusual material for a gown--it's the backstory behind this piece of wearable art that makes it macabre in my eyes.
According to her Etsy page, designer Rachel Wright derived her inspiration for the Blood Countess Art Dress from 'The Blood Countess,' a novel by Andre Codrescu about a 16th-century Hungarian countess who tortured and killed young women before bathing in their blood. Wright says that the gloves represent the skin of the victims murdered by that countess (Erzabet of Bathory, if you're keeping track).
Gowns Made of Gloves
Toolgrrl Designs' Blood Countess Art Dress Has a Gory History
Trend Themes
1. Art Fashion - Opportunity for artists to create garments with unconventional materials and tell compelling stories through their designs.
2. Upcycled Fashion - Growing trend of repurposing materials to create unique and sustainable clothing pieces.
3. Narrative Wearable Art - Emerging market for wearable art pieces that convey powerful narratives and provoke emotions.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Fashion designers can explore unconventional materials and storytelling to create captivating and unconventional garments.
2. Craft and Artisan - Artists and craftsmen can tap into the growing demand for unique, story-driven wearable art pieces made from repurposed materials.
3. Sustainability - The upcycled fashion industry can capitalize on the increasing consumer interest in eco-friendly and sustainable fashion alternatives.