As fashion lovers from all over the world continue to look for more sustainable labels to add to their closets, emerging designer Alexandra Sipa is pushing the boundaries of design with her innovative creations made from repurposed electrical wire.
Sipa’s up-and-coming namesake label, founded in partnership with Lucas Baker, has begun popping up on many people’s radar, especially with the introduction of its FW21 collection dubbed “Sour Floral.”
Just as the name suggests the seasonal range, inspired by heightened austerity and hyper-femininity in Romania, comprises colorful and playful garments that have been produced using sustainable methods, such as Sipa’s signature wire technique. This innovative lace-making method has helped the label in creating eye-catching and unique pieces from discarded electrical wire.
To create the garments, an adapted bobbin lace technique is used to design new organic shapes and elaborate patterns. The silhouettes are laid out on a board with pins placed at crucial points. Here, the wires can be looped to form the garment’s shape and then refined to ensure a comfortable fit and polished finish.
To further push the label’s sustainable efforts, the wires are sourced from a London recycling centre, seeing as over 50 million tonnes of e-waste has ended up in landfills as of last year.
Standout items in Alexandra Sipa’s FW21 lineup include the multi-textural outerwear jackets, intricate playsuits, sculptural gowns, and delicate bralettes, which have all been created by weaving together multi-colored wire. Even the spellbinding accessories have been made to look like abstract floral patterns and oversized ruffles.
Elsewhere, high-waisted jeans and shorts made from upcycled denim are also included in the seasonal offering and have also been embellished with lace appliqués throughout. Finally, lycra bike shorts, long-sleeved shirts, and bodysuits round out the bold and avant-garde collection.
The looks are adorned with multi-coloured lace patch embroidery in cadmium yellow, turquoise blue, and amaranth and elevated with faux-fur, luxurious velvet, and eccentric bow detailing.
All images in this article are courtesy of Alexandra Sipa.
