Photos by Romana Vystova and Naphtali Visser

This past Saturday, NuVu's 2013 Nature-Tech Collection hit the runway during Boston Fashion Week's premier event: Emerging Trends. The Boston Center of the Arts (Cyclorama), was abuzz with over 500 attendees eager to see this year's top emerging designers showcase their collections on the 80-feet raised runway.

All of the "looks" that took center stage in NuVu's collection were created by NuVu's young and budding student fashion-tech designers! Not only did the students cleverly merge technology and fashion design in thought-provoking ways, but they stunned the fashion audience with their creative use of materials, interesting forms, and detailed organic patterns.

Here's more on our collection and one of the 5 looks, Frost Dress:

Within nature there are many beautiful forms, colors and designs: from the tiniest sea caterpillars exploding with striking colors, to the mighty redwood trees standing gracefully with their elegant structure. Nature is full of beauty and fascinating patterns. This year, NuVu Studio’s Nature-Tech Collection takes inspiration from nature and its fascinating and complex patterns and blends this with the fabrication technology. The Nature-Tech Collection is meant to inspire, create awe, and involve some level fantasy, and create a sense of wonder and illusion.

Using the combined power of digital design (computer aided drafting, 3d modeling) and rapid prototyping tools (laser cutters and 3d printers), the NuVu Studio designers have developed new and unique patterns and forms for the garments included in the Nature-Tech Collection that otherwise would not be possible through traditional methods and processes.  The collection uses a breadth of materials including various industrial materials made accessible through the digital fabrication methods such as plywood, polycarbonate, renewable bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA), and High-density polyethylene (HDPE).

The Nature-Tech Collection is composed of five looks: Pyramidic, Frost Dress, Avian Poncho, Body Accordion, and Jellyfish Hat.

The Frost Dress is inspired by icicles and frost found in nature. The Frost Dress is made up of 344 different layers of laser-cut icicle-shaped fabric (frost) that was assembled by hand. The chiffon and mesh layered fabric has a frilly and feminine look that also creates the appearance of ice and frost. To balance the femininity and softness of the fabric, the shoulder and bustle frost pieces are made of lenticular polycarbonate that provide a firm shine. They hope this will add a strong contrast between hard and soft in their dress.

Student Designers:

Olivia Cleary

Will Adam

Lead Coaches/Collection Directors:

Tess Aquarium

Saba Ghole