Photos by Romana Vystova and Naphtali Visser

On Saturday October 5, 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, Body Accordion:

NuVu's “Nature-Tech” Collection:

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.

Body Accordion:

The Body Accordion brings together two concepts: accordion and body corset. The Body Accordion is designed to emulate the behavior of an accordion, being flexible and allowing circular movement yet fitted to the body like a corset. The Body Accordion is made of laser-cut plywood “ribs” that attach to a harness designed of recycled leather. 3d printed hinges secure the plywood ribs to the harness and allow the ribs to move and yet be stable at the same time. 

Design Team:

Student Designers:

Kate Reed

Sam Ingersoll

Lead Coaches/Collection Directors:

Tess Aquarium

Saba Ghole