Designer Hugo Boss creates 'paper'
suit.
Nonwovens Industry • August, 1998 • fashion designer Hugo Boss' design of suit made of
paper
'Tyvek' nonwoven used in non-traditional segment
Shades of the 60's. In a flashback to the days of the paper
dress - the origin of nonwovens according to many accounts - fashion
designer Hugo Boss has teamed with pop artist James Rosenquist to
recreate a new version of what Mr. Boss calls "the legendary paper
suit" made famous in the 1960's by Mr. Rosenquist. The
creation of the new paper suit represents a continuation of the
company's long-term global collaboration with the Guggenheim
Foundation.
The paper suit (shown at right on Mr. Rosenquist and on this
month's cover) was introduced in March at the Deutsche Guggenheim
Berlin - a joint venture between Deutsche Bank and the Solomon R.
Guggenheim Foundation - in conjunction with the opening exhibition of
Mr. Rosenquist's latest work, "The Swimmer in the
Econo-Mist." Made of DuPont's 'Tyvek' material, the
suit was made in both tan and black. As part of a special promotion, Mr.
Rosenquist signed and numbered a small quantity of the suits, which were
auctioned off for charity. The first sold for $1500.
According to legend, the paper suit originally came about because Mr.
Rosenquist spent every night out in the 1960's and by 1966 had
rented so many tuxedos that he decided to have one made. He liked the
'paper suit' idea, but could not find any company to make one
for him. He did convince the Kleenex Company to provide the paper, which
he took to a couturier who created a white paper suit. Mr. Rosenquist
reportedly wore the suit about eight times, mainly to gallery and museum
openings.
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NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.