Sidewalk Art

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If London’s got elephants, it’s mannequins for New York. In a first of its kind exhibit, 30 leading designers and two student groups have collaborated to transform custom built Ralph Pucci mannequins into art pieces for Sidewalk Catwalk.

Prabal Gurung paid tribute to late designer Alexander McQueen and created a head-piece of white butterflies (see McQueen’s design here). Naeem Khan went glamorous (much like his gowns) with a metal studded mannequin outfitted with a colorful leotard, beaded necklace and chain headdress.

Parson’s student group included Niyati Karwat and Emily Saunders, who created as an ode to the 1950s Fashion District, a Victorian skirt.Focusing on a sustainable and socially responsible design, all the materials used were natural. The inner lining of the skirt actually has moss which they hope will bloom flowers eventually. How cool is that!

If you are in NYC, be sure to catch the exhibit on Broadway between 35th and 42nd but if you aren’t see all the designers here.

Get more details Here.

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L To R: Prabal Gurung, Naeem Khan, Niyati Karwat and Emily Saunders

Photo Credit: NYMag

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14 Comments

    • A lot of great artists scuplted and painted nudes. What do you mean by, “how is that art?” Art has no set definition. You absolutely cannot judge or evaluvate art without an open mind. It is not at all stupid, or vulgar (its a mannequin for heaven’s sake).

      Reply
    • Uh.. it is meant to be a headpiece so why should he cloth the mannequin.

      I think it’s probably prettier in person because the whole thing is too white on white. Maybe a darker shaded mannequin might have brought the head gear out.

      Reply
  1. I did go check them out after this post, and the Naeem Khan is stunning! Overall it was a fantastic display and I’m really proud of the Indian designers :). [Except for Prabhal Gurung’s, sorry. I still think it was hardly inspired, and it actually looks better in the picture here than in real life.]

    Reply
  2. hmmm…Art.. it has a diff meaning to every one as … in this case.. The designer wanted better attention… so he used art. Not that what he did is Art. Have YOu seen any one getting her head shaved just because she wanted to draw everybody’s attention towards her Outfit??

    Reply
    • You cant just emphatically state that what he did is not art. Art is completely subjective, what might be kitsch to you, could be of artistic merit to somebody else. Also, the point of art is not merely to be attention seeking, so I dont really think the shaved head anology works.

      Reply

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