Gallery: "Diversity and Sustainability"

This research was supported in part by the UNIV. OF CA., DAVIS, Consortium for Women and Research, 2009-10
Also for all Jewish Heritage: inspired by folk wear and uses semi-antique folk wear from around the world.

All garments are suggested dry-clean only, though very careful hand washing is permissible for all but the neck accessories.

	This is "Kristy" (no last names please to protect identity). She models skirt with adjustable waist, and hidden pockets of sustainable raw silk. The side kick-pleats are hand dyed with sustainable cochineal dye on re-purposed silk. The blouse is a re-purposed semi-antique silk with machine embroidery in gold, from India. The back of the blouse has adjustable fit with a set of decorative clips. The embellishments in front over fasteners are semi-antique from Haiti, made of sequins.
	This is Rosalyn. She models a gray and purple wool jacket made in folk-wear inspired style with sustainable no-waste pattern design and sustainably raised and dyed wool (from NearSea Naturals natural fabric company). Jacket has purple inserts under arm for more ease of movement, and has a zipper up the back for ease of dressing--front closure is hidden snaps. Front of jacket is embellished with an embroidery from Uzbekestan--it was a belt. Skirt is wrap around with a tailored waist-band, lined with light indigo hand-dyed silk. See next image for blouse and folk wear embroidered collar worn under jacket. Photo credit: Thatcher James Biddle
	This is Rosalyn without the jacket. She wears a folk wear styled blouse patterned from rectangles to be no-waste, made in silk organza hand-dyed with cochineal. The blouse slips over the head with much ease for movement--worn over a brown knit camisole. The Embroidered Collar is semi-antique from India, as was re-purposed from the original garment's pink silk (the pink silk was used for Kristy's blouse). The collar is lined with purple wool, has a 'v' back of same embroidery, and has small fasteners at the side to create a fitted look. Photo credit: Thatcher James Biddle
	This is Taschelle modeling a four piece ensemble. Embroidered collar-accessory is semi-antique hand sewn with mirror embellishments from India; lined with purple sustainable wool; back of collar has classy black braid design on purple wool. The blouse is 100% natural color peace silk (silk worm lives to chew out of silk cocoon). Blouse is a variation on ancient folk wear pattern with dolman sleeves, but split front and back for easy dressing, closes with invisible snaps; edges are finished with tiny hand-stitches for a smooth, elegant finish. Skirt is navy sustainable wool twill, lined with silk hand-dyed with cochineal; wrap around style with 1 inch pleats to create fit. Jacket is a modernized version of a cape/visite dating to the 1870s; details of jacket/cape shown on wooden mannequin in another image. Photo credit: Thatcher James Biddle
	This is Jane modeling on the steps of the California State Capitol wearing a folk wear inspired blouse, skirt, and neck accessory. Blouse and skirt of pint and purple sustainable raw silk in no-waste patterning, with fit achieved by decorative clips in back blouse, and adjustable waist for skirt. Yellow silk, hand-dyed with saffron, is worn layered in folk wear style, but with a-line skirts rather than the folk tradition of gathered skirts. Notice skirt's accessory: a 'royal apron' inspired by Egyptian kings, made in Bali with metal wire woven in with the intricate silk patterning. The fabric neck-piece is a variation on other Egyptian jewelry, in same Bali fabric with copper/gold wire, gracefully suspended by saffron dyed silk. Photo credit: Thatcher James Biddle
	This is Jasmine, a famous local model, wearing an evening outfit inspired by folk wear and made from a modern sari from India. This sari dress and the folk wear collar/jewelry is one-of-a-kind. Sari edges have metal threads added for glitz, and the fabric is tie-dyed with an ancient technique of tying very small dots, a famous pattern from India. Neck jewelry is also from India, embellished with mirrors, cowrie shells and embroidery, suspended from hand-dyed silk. Skirt waist is elastic with tie front fit for multiple waist sizes. Photo credit: Thatcher James Biddle