This competition is about recycling and preventing unwanted non-biodegratable waste. My design fuses the natural world with the synthetic creating a beautiful resolution . Most umbrella material is either nylon or polyester and is usually created with a form of DWR (Durable Water Repellancy). In addition to being synthetic this also disables it to break down over time, in fact it preserves it longer. This dress is designed to be more earth friendly.

I combined the standard umbrella with used cocktail drink umbrellas. The cocktail umbrellas not only adds a natural aspect with the wood stems and biodegradable paper tops, but also adds bright colors and prints. These drink umbrellas are usually an embellishment for fun and then get tossed away, this design enables these to create a function for themselves.

The design consists of four pieces:

The main piece is the top bodice. It has a standing collar and a halter split top that is made of black nylon/poly fabric. This piece is attached to a form- fitting panel made of the paper circle ruffles which in turn attaches to a long gusseted black skirt that separate and wraps around to the back and front. All the gussets are overlaid to form mulitple cascading rows of red paper circle ruffles. These ruffles are made from the drink umbrellas.

The second and most decorative piece of the garment serves as a corset/belt. The base fabric is the black nylon/poly, but then it is overlaid for decoration. This holds the split bodice in place, and also serves as the focal point to a bare-backed dress. The decoration is provided from the wood stems of the drink umbrellas, which create a unique pattern combining radial and horizontal rows. It has a cut-out back, where it also attaches at the center back.

The third piece is a simple fitted black pencil skirt that stops about six inches above the knee. It is designed to receed and let the bright red circle ruffles pop out. This also has a center back closure.

The last piece is a caplette that drapes over the neck and one shoulder. There is an armhole just above the elbow that is trimmed with the wooden stems of the drink umbrellas. This pattern is also radial matching it to the corset/belt.

Together these four pieces create a perfect blend of fashion, nature, and industry. They can be reused and recycled by creating different looks with other garments in your wardrobe. This dress can stand alone in a room and no one would be able to tell the basis of its origins.

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