NuVu's “Nature-Tech” Collection

Emerging Trends Show, Boston Fashion Week, 2013

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.

Avian Poncho

The Avian Poncho takes inspiration from the designers’ native countries of Mexico and Guatemala and the feathers of native birds. The Poncho is rich with colors to express joy and traditional patterns that represent the culture and land of these places but all expressed with a modern twist. Each color of the chiffon, metallic woven cotton and jersey fabric has its own meaning. For instance, pink represents the flowers that blossom during the spring season in Guatemala. The brown represents the soil on the land around Mexico. The wood used to create the avian-inspired neckpiece and button, represents the forest, and the material that people use to cook on an everyday basis. Digital technologies were used to generate complex patterns that were then laser-cut from the fabric.

Photos by Romana Vystova & Naf Visser