From glasses made of vinyl to hats formed with chocolate — the fashion industry doesn't always settle for glass and cotton. Some designers prefer to work with material that isn't usually associated with the catwalk.
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High Five: 5 materials you probably didn't know are used to make clothes
From glasses made of vinyl to hats formed with chocolate — the fashion industry doesn't always settle for glass and cotton. Some designers prefer to work with material that isn't usually associated with the catwalk.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Gebert
Stylish plastic bags
Plastic bags are everywhere, so why not do something creative with them? That's what fashion designer and environmental activist Katell Gélébart thought. With her label Art d'Eco, she transforms plastic waste into wearable jackets, bags and even evening gowns. Except for the rustling of the material, you wouldn't know where it came from.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Chocolate dresses
They are the highlight of the annual Salon du Chocolat in Paris: dresses made of pure chocolate are presented at a fashion show at the event's opening. Chocolatiers and fashion designers team up to create the tasty gowns, which are worn on the catwalk by French celebrities. However, the dresses aren't for daily wear as they tend to chip.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D.Silpa
Comic accessories
A Berlin designer breathes new life into old comic books. Sophia Wening makes phone covers, wallets, cigarette cases and even handbags from unwanted superhero comic books. She first compiles a collage, then covers it in plastic and sews it together. Customers who want to carry around their favorite superhero can order personalized items.
Image: PauwPauw
LED fashion
The jackets designed by Veronika Aumann of Berlin work like a screen thanks to hundreds of LEDs sewn into the fabric. The result is a fabric that can glow in any color or intensity you want. It comes with an app that can be used to create a picture with the lights on the jacket. It's certainly a futuristic attention-getter and can be transformed to match the mood.
Image: Veronika Aumann
Vinyl glasses
Can you guess the origin of these frames? The ridges give it away. They were made from old records by the label Vinylize. Owner Zachary Tipton searches record stores for records that no one wants to buy and uses them to fashion one-of-a-kind eyewear. He also offers sunglasses.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Gebert
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It can be hard to come up with revolutionary new styles these days — we've already seen practically everything. That's why some fashion designers, eager to show off their creativity, go for materials that some of us would consider a bit weird.
A famous example is the dress American singer Lady Gaga wore during the MTV Music Video Awards in 2010, when she took to the stage in a garment made of raw beef. The, um, tasteful ensemble created by Argentine designer Franc Fernandez was accented with a hat, shoes and a handbag made of steak.
Equally edible, but far less smelly, are dresses shown at the Salon du Chocolat. Part of the opening ceremony at the annual fair promoting the latest chocolate trends is a huge fashion show presenting dresses made of the world's favorite treat.
Each year, renowned chocolate producers get together with famous fashion designers like France's Isadora Delarose and Jean Luc Decluzeau to create dresses, hats, corsages and even jewelry made of chocolate.
One of the biggest challenges is to make them durable, so they won't melt during the show — a difficult endeavor once room temperatures reach 30 degree Celsius (upwards of 85 degrees Fahrenheit).
Our High Five ranking takes a closer look at these confectionery creations, and other fashion articles made of unusual materials.