Shopper's dress, hanger

This was a project I started this summer. I began by collecting grocery bags, which I cut into sheets and ironed together to form a fabric, and then I used them to sew this dress, with a design loosely based on a 50s housewife style.

Then I took it shopping.

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Comments

Peggy Dembicer says:

Excellent results.Did you get any comments from the other shoppers?
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

mleak says:

Heehee, I sure did. Most people just gave me strange, long looks, but a few asked me about it. Most just wanted to know if I was a designer, or what (I love how "I'm an art major" seems to be an excuse for anything). One of the employees wanted to know where he (?) could buy it, and then there was this one very curmudgeony old guy who started talking about industrial disposable aprons and saying "This isn't anything new! This isn't anything new!" I love my neighborhood.

I was extremely embarrassed at first (I'm not great with performative art) but it was actually quite fun.
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

Sharon Styer says:

It's brillant. Did you actually sew plastic? I didn't realize you could. Now I want to try.
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

Joey Harrison says:

I predict you're gonna get a call from Issey Miyake. Or somebody like that.
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

lisascenic says:

wow...brilliant!

did you ruin your iron doing this?
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

mleak says:

Heh, thanks to all :) Yep, I actually sewed it, and nope, the iron is doing just fine. I had to use layers of newspaper in between the plastic and the iron, otherwise it would melt completely.
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

yesiamnoimnot says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called not intended for use as, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group. I love your dress. it shouts a message without saying a word. What could be better.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Feltbug says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Artists you should know about, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

maryjanemidgemink says:

Amazing!
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Arbel Egger says:

great dress...
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

FazendoArte says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called > Reuse > Recrie > Recicle >, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

FazendoArte says:

:)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

OutsaPop Trashion says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called TRASHION NATION - New stuff from other peoples trash, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Post Scriptum says:

really nicely done!!! this ironing garbage technique is super interesting
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Gollus says:

Muy guapo!

Lo recojo para mi blog "Recogedor"

Saludos ;)
Gollus.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

usu* says:

this is great idea, congrats:)
(came via edgargonzalez blog)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Electric Zebras says:

Did you use regular thread sewing this? How has it held up?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

P-roy's Toy says:

Reminds me of a paper dress I once made and wore to a school un-prom (fund raiser). My dress was floor length and held together with staples and scotch tape. Hard to dance in it, tho !
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

Recicl'arte HT says:

cool very cool...
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

megitas says:

absolutely beautiful.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

Yaiyo_chan says:

Great picture!!

I'm doing the same thing, but the bags keep getting holes in them from the iron and the wax paper I'm using keeps sticking to the plastic. Got any tips?
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

mleak says:

Thanks Yaiyo_chan -- when I worked with the bags, I used a couple layers of newspaper between the iron and plastic instead of wax paper. As long as I kept the iron moving, it seemed to be okay, and wouldn't melt through or stick. Maybe give that a shot? Good luck! I'd love to see what you come up with.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

fadwa2cool says:

how did u iron it wudnt it stick to the uron wen it melts??i need to make something like this for a skool project can u help me?? email me the steps at luiv94@yahoo.com plz and thank u.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

.liL aLien. says:

this is way way cool!:))
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Max Estes says:

can I get this in paper? ; )
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Maria - kjoo says:

brilliant!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

roman à clef says:

fantastic!!!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

chuha says:

Those bags are somewhat translucent....this might end up being a pretty risque/sexy little number!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

karen ☆ [deleted] says:

Amazing!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

Wordswordswords says:

haha, awesome
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

marinitahhh says:

I am going to try this for a concert! thanks!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

Damien James says:

Brilliant. It would be amazing if everyone started reusing and recycling like this... Excellent work.
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

Canon_Rebel_User says:

Wow what a lovely 50s style dress.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

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Additional Information

Taken with an Olympus C5060WZ.
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Taken on December 15, 2006
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Shopper's dress, hanger

Comments

Peggy Dembicer says:

mleak says:

Sharon Styer says:

Joey Harrison says:

lisascenic says:

mleak says:

yesiamnoimnot says:

Feltbug says:

maryjanemidgemink says:

Arbel Egger says:

FazendoArte says:

FazendoArte says:

OutsaPop Trashion says:

Post Scriptum says:

Gollus says:

usu* says:

Electric Zebras says:

P-roy's Toy says:

Recicl'arte HT says:

megitas says:

Yaiyo_chan says:

mleak says:

fadwa2cool says:

.liL aLien. says:

Max Estes says:

Maria - kjoo says:

roman à clef says:

chuha says:

karen ☆ [deleted] says:

Wordswordswords says:

marinitahhh says:

Damien James says:

Canon_Rebel_User says:

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