Bio-Plastic Sculptural Dress
Student Name : Marios Perdikoulis & Aimilia Baka
Mentor Name :
Company : CHIMAR
Green Producer Diary
My Motivation
We wanted to create an avant-garde garment from sustainable materials and test whether a self-made bio-plastic could become a real fashion medium. The idea was to build a blouse and skirt that would feel like a second skin – close to the body, organic, fragile, and slightly damaged in places. This visual language reflects the way we think about the body, the surface of skin, and the consequences of non-sustainable clothing systems. Sustainability is important to us because it allows creativity to emerge from low-impact, low-cost, and non-toxic materials.
My Vetrine Journey
The project started with the idea of creating an avant-garde two-piece set from bio-plastic rather than from conventional fabric. We first experimented with different recipes using glycerin, water, gelatin, and starch to compare elasticity, transparency, and texture. After several tests, we chose the gelatin-based mixture because it gave us the translucent, flexible, skin-like effect we wanted. One of the biggest challenges was finding the right proportions so the material would be large enough, stable enough, and still visually expressive. Another challenge appeared during drying, because some pieces developed uneven thickness and even a slight smell due to the gelatin. To solve structural issues, we introduced reclaimed mesh support and later used reclaimed rope so the top could stay on the body as an open-back piece. The original design evolved along the way: the blouse was simplified, the fit was adjusted, and leftover material became a headpiece. We also coloured parts of the material with charcoal so we could keep the visual depth without using toxic pigments. In the end, the project became a wearable experimental set that combines sustainability, material research, and strong artistic identity.
Sustainability Aspect | Your Actions / Explanation |
Environmental | We created our own bio-plastic from glycerin, gelatin, and water, used charcoal instead of synthetic dyes for colour, worked with low-energy boiling and drying processes, and reused mesh and rope support elements instead of buying new conventional fashion materials. |
Social | The project was developed collaboratively and encouraged discussion about ethical making, alternative materials, and how fashion can become more responsible. It also communicates sustainability to audiences through a strong visual and conceptual narrative. |
Financial | The set was developed with a low material cost of around EUR 25, using accessible ingredients and reclaimed support materials. The process relied more on experimentation and manual work than on expensive production tools. |
A Message to Consumers
We would like people to understand that this garment is not only an aesthetic statement, but also an experiment in sustainable making. Behind it there is research, testing, failure, redesign, and a real attempt to show that creativity and sustainability can exist together in a bold way.
A Message to Future Learners
Do not be afraid of experimentation, especially when working with unfamiliar sustainable materials. Organise your process well, test many versions, and let unexpected results guide you toward new ideas rather than discouraging you.
Product Details
Product Name
Bio-Plastic Sculptural Dress
Reference / SKU
VETRINE-PERDIKOULIS-BAKA-BIOPLASTIC-0001
Color
Color The color of the garmen Translucent amber gold, nude beige, charcoal black, and smoky grey
Size
Custom fit / adjustable prototyp
Weight
Approx. 980 g
Quantity (if multi-pack)
One set
Materials Information
Composition
Handmade bio-plastic (glycerin, gelatin, water), reclaimed mesh support, reclaimed rope/cord, charcoal pigmentation, sewing thread
% Recycled Materials
% of Recycled Materials: Support elements partly reclaimed; exact percentage not specified
Reusability: Reusable as a wearable art set or source material for future redesign
Recyclability: Bio-plastic parts are bio-based and potentially biodegradable under suitable conditions; mesh and rope can be separated and reused
Traceable assets (materials origin IDs, fibers batches)
Primary material – handmade bio-plastic sheets created from glycerin, gelatin, and water for the blouse and skirt
Support structure – reclaimed plastic/construction mesh used to stabilize the silhouette and reinforce selected areas
Fastening system – reclaimed rope/cord for open-back adjustment and fit
Natural pigmentation – charcoal used for non-toxic colouring and surface contrast
Assembly materials – existing sewing thread and hand-finishing tools
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
1
Location
Greece
2
Date
Concept development: 2026-01-12
Material testing and sample making: 2026-01-28
Large sheet production and drying: 2026-02-16
Draping, assembly, and fitting: 2026-03-05
Final styling and presentation: 2026-03-14
3
Type of processes
Material experimentation, boiling, mixing, moulding, drying, charcoal colouring, draping, hand sewing, fitting, assembly, and finishing
supply chain map
Tier 4Raw material
Concept & design: Marios Perdikoulis and Aimilia Baka
Tier 3Material processing
Material experimentation & bio-plastic production: Marios Perdikoulis and Aimilia Baka
Tier 2Component manufacturing
Hand assembly & finishing: Marios Perdikoulis and Aimilia Baka
Tier 1Final assembly
Support materials reuse: reclaimed construction materials sourced locally
Environmental & Social Impact
Uses handmade bio-plastic made from glycerin, gelatin, and water; produced through low-energy boiling and drying; includes non-toxic charcoal pigmentation; reuses reclaimed mesh and rope for support; and reduces reliance on conventional textiles for this experimental set
% of Recycled Materials, Reusability, Recyclability Record packaging recycled content %, reusability, and recyclability % of Recycled Materials: Support elements partly reclaimed; exact percentage not specified
Reusability: Reusable as a wearable art set or source material for future redesign
Recyclability: Bio-plastic parts are bio-based and potentially biodegradable under suitable conditions; mesh and rope can be separated and reused
Approx. 45 hours, EUR 25
Care, Repair & Lifetime Extension
1
Care Instructions
Handle with extreme care, do not machine wash, avoid moisture and direct heat, and store flat or supported in a cool, dry place
2
Repair Information
Repair & Discard Information Suggestions for repairs and eco-friendly disposal Repair by reinforcing joins with additional bio-plastic or re-fastening the support cords and mesh where needed. Reuse the components in future artistic or fashion prototypes whenever possible.
