FASHIONing the FUTURE: Fashion made of paper (remastered)

It's been a really long time (!!!) since my last post. Things have been crazy lately...but enough with the irrelevant facts... back to work!

Yesterday i read an article in the LIFO (www.lifo.gr) about scientists inventing high-tech paper. Researchers in the University of Technology in Italy have turned plain paper into a "super-powered" paper. Waterproof, magnetic even antibacterial. Well, this surely is interesting.
Scientists can see a major role of the antibacterial paper in the healthcare and the food industry, magnetic and fluorescent in official documents and money, and waterproof paper in protecting significant documents.

In my point of view, with my usual/unusual thoughts i instantly made a connection with an exhibition hosted in the Benaki museum (www.benaki.gr) in 2007, "Χρατς, Μόδα απο χαρτί" (Fashion made of paper), and paper clothing in general.

Paper clothes first appeared in the 1960's. Paper dresses were a little more than just paper, they were usually composed of 93% cellulose and 7% nylon (like dry baby wipes), or sometimes made of "Dura-Weve," which was cellulose reinforced with rayon. Although they were indeed more fragile than cloth, they were not likely to rip at the slightest move. Many paper clothes also featured closures of Velcro, making them seem even more "space-age."Paper dresses sounded like the next great invention - convenient, cheap and fashionable.

Andy Warhol's Souper dress

So why aren't they around today? It certainly wasn't for lack of marketing. According to a Time Magazine article from 1967, "Sterling Paper believes in paper resort wear, the idea being that vacationers could buy paper clothes at the hotel when they arrive, throw them away when they depart, thus eliminating packing and carrying heavy luggage." Paper dresses were also lauded in fashion magazines of the times. However, the physical limitations of a dress made from paper were too great to large up to critical acclaim. Despite efforts to invent a durable paper-based fabric, the dresses ripped too easily. Also, though some dresses had chemicals added to prevent them catching fire, repeated washings removed this protection.

Can this past trend get back in the game with the help of future technologies? We'll just have to wait and see...

I thought it would be nice to see some creations made of paper.