The peony season is short, but that hasn’t stopped fashion designer Katerina Shukshina from creating tops made from the flower.
In collaboration with gift marketplace Flowwow, she created a crop top adorned with Sarah Bernhardt’s classic 1906 peony, a large double flower in pastel pink. The choice is meant to exude affection, affection, and tenderness. More of a work of art than a typical basic garment, the piece is a one-off and not meant for sale or everyday wear. Nevertheless, the striking finish seems like an idea that bridal designers could explore using handcrafted flowers.
Time was also precious to Shukshina, as peonies only bloom once a year, and the best time to see them is from mid-May to early June.
Needless to say, her take on sustainability is on another level. To create such a delicate piece with real peonies, the designer first had to do test runs with a mockup made with artificial flowers. Though she’s worked with a variety of natural materials, plants, and flowers, this project was a first for her, given the number of peonies needed. Shukshina said, “I wasn’t entirely sure if the design of the top would hold up. The test version with artificial flowers really helped. The top came out beautifully.”
The designer worked double duty and even modelled for his creations – he used models for promotional photos, which made it difficult to correct slight inaccuracies in the ribbon-shaped bouquets. Given the situation, Shukshina said she wished she could clone herself.
It’s unclear exactly why and how she decided the world needed peony floral tops, as her ideas tend to emerge spontaneously. Shukshina, who rarely plans her creations in advance, excels at blending fashion and nature. She says: “For example, the idea for the cabbage umbrella came to me while I was harvesting cabbages. [There’s also a cabbage coat and handbag.] And while eating a tangerine, I had the idea of making a tangerine jacket. Now I am surrounded by many dandelions, and I would like to use them to make something interesting, soft, and comfortable, like furniture. It is a surprise to me that something is expected of me in the future.
A grassy coat designed by Jonathan Anderson for Loewe.
Photo courtesy of WWD
The concept of growing out of the ground is something Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson can appreciate: When the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute debuted its “Sleeping Beauty: Fashion Resurrection” exhibit earlier this month, a Loewe coat made from real grass was on display, but it subsequently had to be replaced with an artificial grass version because the grass just seemed greener on the other side.