Paperwork
ADRESS constructed of office paper, supported by bubble wrap and accessorised with plastic from printer cartridges is sure to turn heads at the Vodacom Durban July on July 7.
It’s the latest project by GreenOffice, an eco-conscious print services company in New Germany, co-owned by ex-Springbok and exSharks player Wayne Fyvie.
The company promotes the reduction of office waste like printer cartridges and paper, recycles and remanufactures cartridges, so the dress fits in perfectly with this year’s July fashion theme “A Material World?”.
The creative mind behind the elegant paper creation is staffer Julie James, a fine arts graduate and freelance artist who spent just over three months designing and constructing it.
“Studies show that 80 percent of a corporate environment’s highest carbon footprint comes from paper, so paper seemed the obvious material to use,” says Julie.
“I cut up plastic from cartridges to accessorise the bodice. The corset consists of layers of paper and glue to form a papier mâché-type material and the skirt is given body by a bubble wrap under-layer. The paper used is durable dormant office printing paper so it will not tear easily.”
Other materials that were used included, the inner drums of printer cartridges to form jewellery, a bag was constructed using the branded cartridge boxes, and paper doilies sourced from the office kitchen created a lacy effect in the skirt and bodice.
An umbrella was also made from unused office branding to accompany the dress.
The dress will be modelled on the July Day by fellow staffer Justine Bufe, on the arm of Siyabonga Nzimande who will wear GreenOffice’s 2011 project, the muchpublicised “green suit”.
The suit was designed by Terrence Bray and created for the COP17 Summit last year. Weighing 8kg, it was created by 160 crafters from the Woza Moya/Hillcrest Aids Centre out of beads in the Shembe style with a contemporary twist.
With the paper dress parading down the track and on the fashion stage on the July Day, the GreenOffice staff – and the model – are praying it does not rain! The umbrella could well save the day, as that, however, is waterproof !