Revelations by Klara Kalicz
(images via: klara kalicz behance)
Horns, spikes and fins: designer Klara Kalicz takes the dangerous elements of nature and weaves them into striking modern statement pies in her Revelations collection. The young Hungarian brings animals into her work in both realistic and abstract forms, from a dramatic horned shoulder piece to dresses and pants printed with cows, elephants, giraffes and other creatures.
Pollinator Frocks: Dresses That Attract and Feed Bees
(images via: karen ingham)
With her ‘Pollinator Frocks’, designer Karen Ingham has taken a slightly different tack: these designs are not just inspired by wild creatures, but actually created to benefit them. The flower-like prints on these dresses are actually electron-microscopy images of pollen particles – and they’re treated with a nectar-like solution that attracts and feeds bees! While these ‘wearable gardens’ aren’t for the faint of heart – or the bee-allergic – they’re a fascinating way to engage with the natural world. The artist notes that if you’re afraid of bees, you can simply hang the garments on a clothesline and watch the pollinators buzz in for a treat.
Colony: High Fashion Inspired by Bees
(images via: ada zanditon)
The honeycomb patterns are subtle, and there are no black-and-yellow stripes in sight, but that doesn’t make Ada Zanditon’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection ‘Colony’ any less of a love letter to bees. The London-based designer presented the collection at London Fashion Week, showing off her bee-inspired biomimicry. The hexagonal shapes are brought into very wearable territory with soft dresses, blouses and bags.
Morphotex: Dress Mimics Butterfly Wings Without Dye
(images via: donnasgro)
How do the wings of a butterfly shimmer? The manufacturers of a fabric called Morphotex figured out how, creating a luminous effect with structurally colored fiber that mimics the microscopic structure of the Morpho butterfly’s wings. The fabric is not actually dyed at all – the lovely shade of blue is a trick of the light. Designer Donna Sgro used the fabric to create this pretty dress.

