Tyvek Cartesia Denim

Hussein Chalayan Cartesia Tyvek Denim Pants. Although its unclear to me when these were made they’re an obvious nod to Chalayan’s commercial runway debut in AW1994. Titled “Cartesia”, Hussein Chalayan’s catalyst for this collection are his memories of writing to his mother after leaving Cyprus as a youngin’. Best described as “The body becoming like documents”, materials for the runway collection were made from tyvek, a rip resistant light material mostly used for post mail and packages (if you’re in The US its the material used in usps non flat rate packages), with embellishments resembling EU post designs along the blazer lapels and edges of skirts. A blazer from the runway was fitted for the cover of critically acclaimed album “Post” by Bjork.

5 years later Chalayan released a limited “Air Mail” dress heavily sought out by collectors which folds into a mailable envelope. In 2001 chalayan touched based on the dress” “I was interested in investigating the idea of creating a cyclical scenario, where people react to clothes and the end result. I like the idea of it being interactive… you don’t know what people are going to write on it. It’s just the raw material, to be themed by the recipient or the sender. The dress can go off on its own course. I like doing that. It’s like picking up a seed from the air and you don’t know what will happen to it. It’s quite a creative way of working – creating a situation and then withdrawing.”. These pants are wrapped in tyvek along the waistline and sides. The denim indigo dye rubs off on the tyvek creating an interesting aging effect.

7/10 condition. Size 30