Fashion Through the Garden 2019

Collaboration is an important part of our culture and by intersecting fashion and landscape architecture we can explore different perspectives and insight together to create something unique that will encourage creativity and discussion. As artists we both approach our work by addressing the environmental problems, we currently face by creating beauty while respecting our planet for future generations. Viewers are thus invited to apprehend the works in this context of dialogue between landscape architecture and fashion, while becoming aware of sustainable practices.

Designed in a minimalist context, this garden focuses attention to the art then translates that energy to the surrounding space. The intent is to reduce it down to the garden’s essential elements stone, water, space and light to set the stage for Celeste Malvar-Stewart’s art. Celeste is a local textiles and fashion designer who creates sustainable pieces, using wool, alpaca, and mohair from Ohio fibre farms; along with natural dyes.

Celeste has created various hand-felted and naturally dyed wearable art pieces that flow throughout the environment. By reusing waste materials along with local wool and alpaca she has created pieces that will blend with and complement the landscape. All components of the project are recyclable, the plants will be transplanted, and all materials reused after the show.

In addition, a suspended garden has been created out of planted hand felted vessels. By wrapping the plant’s root ball with fabric and then suspending the ensemble we bring the observers closer to the plant by placing it at eye level, facilitating the observation in detail of the colored shades of the flower, the shape of the foliage, the structure of the stem or the texture of the vessel. We are utilizing the fabrics ability to stabilize the root ball, hold moisture and drain excess water just like a conventional pot.

Our goal is to engage people to experience the beauty that can occur in the unexpected intersection between two seemingly unconnected professions: fashion and landscape architecture.