Carpet as Clothing, Clothing as Carpet

Image from bravotv.com.

Perhaps you've heard of Project Runway. It's an obsession just a bit smaller than American Idol that seems to monopolize any free time available in this country. Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum and an assorted cast of aspiring designers have made fabric, sewing and design suddenly very... fierce.

So it's not surprising that a plethora of Project Runway-like fashion contests are popping up all over the country. One of them, located in Seattle and dubbed Product Runway, challenges leading design firms and students in the area to create garments from manufacturing materials, including upholstery, lighting and even... carpet!

But events like this aren't simply vapid attempts to flaunt all things superficial (maybe just a little); they usually support a cause. In the case of Product Runway, all proceeds go to the Interior Design Coalition of Washington, a group that seeks the recognition of the interior design profession to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

If you're in the Seattle area, Product Runway takes place on May 2, 2008, at the South Lake Union Naval Reserve.

If you can't make it, check out some design inspiration for the contestants. Each participating design team was randomly paired with a manufacturer, then had just under four months to finish their garment. The teams will participate in the final runway event complete with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and plenty of people watching.

But clothing made of carpet isn't the half of it.

Have you ever seen carpet made of clothing? Silke Wawro, a German designer, developed a scrap clothing carpet which at one time, was available for purchase off of a giant roll. The carpet was seen as a fabric journal, created to represent all of the clothing used during a person's lifetime. At the same time, it also gave a nod to sustainable, reusable design. Although her Web site is no longer available, you can still see the clothing carpet here and here.

Image compliments of Inhabitat.

For more on Silke Wawro, check out TreeHugger.com. Wawro labeled her clothing and products Volksware, meaning "people's products." Her most buzz worthy product seems to be the most expensive coat in the world, one she created from 7,531 clothing labels and values at 759,987.20 Euro...

So there you have it. Wearable carpet and floorable clothing. The industries will never be the same.

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