September 28, 2022 |
The harrowing reality is that the seven seas are drowning in eight million metric tons of plastic each year. The ocean’s temperatures are rising too, which in turn kills corals and other marine species. So for SS23, diving deeper underwater than ever before, Botter co-creative directors, Lisi Herrebrugh and Rushemy Botter, proposed fresh, environmental solutions, augmenting their exploration into what true sustainability might mean.
Dubbed The Plastic Sea, the design duo collaborated closely with a bunch of bio engineers and environmental researchers to develop a slew of new sustainable fabrics made from kelp, an oceanic algae. Kelp is something of a miracle seaweed – absorbing CO2 even more effectively than trees – that has been found to be beneficial for both the planet and the body. In fact, wearing fabrics made from kelp has groundbreaking health benefits such as reducing environmental damage to the skin and decelerating ageing.
Botter collided with Notpla too, a start-up focussed on formulating home-compostable packaging. For this collection they introduced edible water-bubbles made from seaweed and plants. The trainers were a point of pride, fitted on water-bubble soles so that they felt as if they were floating.
Inspired by the Caribbean Sea – where the duo have set up a coral farm – suits also surfaced in Botter’s blue brand colour, some with heart-shaped lapels and others with subversive slits. Something especially arresting was how models’ hands swam in little prophylactic aquariums across the catwalk, their fingers submerged in XXL condoms filled with dyed water. But Herrebrugh and Botter didn’t come up for air just yet: they also proposed bags made of ice – as ephemeral as the current state of our seas.
It’s time we were all on the same wavelength, because Earth is not indestructible. For the future of fashion, and of humankind, we can no longer fear the deep blue sea; instead we must embrace it with all its hidden wonders. Botter knows best.
Photography courtesy of Botter.
