14 DAY TRIAL // One of the most influent green trends gaining popularity every year is noticeable in the fashion industry.
From fair trade, creative recycling strategies, sustainable materials to the oddest manufacturing processes, impressive results are recorded along this path, attracting people's attention and making them want to green up their wardrobe.
Perhaps one of the most stunning items revealed so far is the largest golden spider silk garment showcased by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
The production process was time-consuming and required a lot of skill and patience, but, at the end of the day, British art historian Simon Peers and his partner in this project, Nicholas Godley, have managed to complete the spectacular piece they were working on for the last five years.
It may seem unbelievable, mostly since it implied the contribution of 1 million golden orb spiders, a species from Madagascar. Best part is that the entire operation did not pose any risks for the tiny creatures, since they were all released back into the wild.
The rare item is considered to be the largest spider silk-based garment ever brought under the spotlight by enthusiastic manufactures.
Apparently, a single ounce of silk involves the presence of 23,000 spiders, therefore the record set by Peers and Godley could be, indeed, hard to break.
“This display will showcase the world’s largest pieces of cloth made from spider silk. It will include a brocaded shawl made from the silk of more than one million female golden orb-weaver spiders collected in the highlands of Madagascar, as well as a cape on public display for the first time,” reveal representatives from Victoria & Albert Museum.
A similar item was spotted at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, almost three years ago, raising the curiosity of a record number of visitors.
Since the final product is difficult to obtain and requires a lot of work and resources, if it were to be commercialized, it would most likely be worth millions.
The yellow garment would definitely complete the outfit of every pampered celebrity but, for now, it is on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, where it will be contemplated by design enthusiasts until June 5th, 2012.