2011 IIDA Stitch Charity Fashion Show*

Chicago IL

For the 2011 IIDA Stitch Charity Fashion Show, marquardt+ was asked by Carnegie Fabrics to create a dress for this year’s theme; a garment design based on a specific Chicago designer and/or building in the Chicagoland area. Each garment is required to utilize the architectural and design products produced by the sponsor company. The m+ team members with Jaysen Goranson, fashion designer, created a dress that evokes the playfulness, color and figural movement of the Oshkosh Toy Store designed by Chicago architect James Wild of Gridwerk Architecture in partnership with m+.

Created out of window sheers, the dress slides along the model’s body, undulating rhythmically and mimicking the modular cladding system of the building exterior. Cartridge pleats spiral up her legs, alluding to the dynamic serpentine building curving, twisting and cantilevering up towards the sky. Peeking from inside the pleats are flashes of primary colored window sheers skewered by ‘pick up sticks’, the inspiration behind the interior support columns that slice through the base of the building. The overall affect of both the dress and building is a sleek, sexy, sophisticated design with punches of playfulness that draws your attention and peaks curiosity.

hair by Rikki Hixx | makeup by Diana Sekura | modeled by Michelle Kraker

* work performed as Design Collaboratives