Months before “CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE: fashion builds a story” opening date, I received a distressing text message from Alena Kalana, that the front skirt of the red bubble skirt had faded.
The red bubble skirt and top are one of the looks from the 2016 collection Tibetan Transplant, which I requested to be in the ‘CLOTH’ exhibition. “CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE” is showcasing the work of a select group of international designers, of which Alena is one. Here is a preview, sneak peek of what’s to come.
Distressed she may have been for a moment, she immediately went into damage control for a more advanced and practical outcome. She told me, “I’ve got a solution … I will insert pleats in contrasting fabric.”
Kalana deconstructed the skirt, did not throw out the faded pieces, instead, reused them in the recreation of the new skirt. She took the faded fabric, cut it into separate pieces, added contrasting fabric for pleat intake and to disperse the sun damaged fabric throughout, with a renewed tiered pleated look.
The new red bubble skirt ensemble is featured in the ‘CLOTH‘ exhibit, along with four other beautifully constructed looks.
Seen on the runway at LA Fashion Week, featured in an article and on the cover of Fine magazine, and exhibited in Santa Barbara, California at the Blurred Boundaries: Fashion as an Art exhibition, Tibetan Transplant exemplifies innovation and aesthetic appeal within a framework of ecological awareness.
Bravo, to zero waste!
More About Alena Kalana
More about Alena Kalana and all looks from Tibetan Transplant shot on location at Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, California – Unconventional is the Norm | A Talk with Alena Kalana
Exhibition Details
CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE: fashion builds a story, curated by Rhonda P. Hill, 24 October 2023–24 January 2024, Parallax Art Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
Photos. Feature: Natasha Hayes @myinfiniteadventure; Location: Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, CA. Other photos: courtesy of Alena Kalana
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