photography by Viktorija Vaisvilaite
photography by Svetlana Batura
Every love and wedding story is different in its own beautiful way. And I am happy to meet people who want their stories “written” in unique handmade natural ways with nuno felt dresses and jackets. It is always unique.
Australian Felt magazine publishing my article on Authentic Creativity and Ethics http://artwearpublications.com.au/subscriptions/felt-magazine.html(by ArtWear Publications)
With the editor's note by Wendy Bailye:
"We have a special article by Vilte on ethics and authenticity - a very timely topic. With the growth of the internet and with so many images of precious work being published, there are ever increasing concerns about people copying other peoples work and denying their own creative selves. Vilte presents us with some interesting research and questions".
Photography in the article is by me and SVETLANA BATURA* fotografija. And thank you to our beautiful models - Beata Molyte and Helman Lik.
This article is the first part - a theoretical, psychological, research approach to the matter. The second part of the article will be published in December issue with interviews with some of very well known textile artists, as well as my personal point of view.
It was one of those personally very special projects – designing a dress for my so beloved ballet dancer Beata Molyte, performing Anna Karenina in a dance play by my beloved choreographer Anzelika Cholina (ACH theater).
photography by Svetlana Batura
Not so long after Svetlana Batura took photos of my felted kimonos on a man and I submitted these photos, I got a letter from Paris, to be more precise – from Edelkoort ETC, a company of a famous trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort.
The letter was an invitation:
“Please find enclosed a letter of invitation from Lidewij Edelkoort, the press letter, as well as images of the pieces we are most inspired by and feel are key to the expression of fetishism in contemporary fashion. Would you please let me know if you would be interested in participating in this high-profile European fashion event, and if so, indicate if the attached pieces are available for consideration?” …
“Some of the designers who already accepted to contribute are: Walter van Beirendonck, Iris van Herpen, Rad hourani, Kei Kagami, Rick Owens, Bernhardt Wilhelm, Bas Kosters, Damir Doma, Joji Kojima, Aitor throup, Peter Movrin, Chris Sutton, Jean Paul Gaultier, Maison Martin Margiela, Yingin Ying, Prada, Uma Burke, Gabriella Marina Gonzalez, Luuk Varkevisser, KYE, Barbara I Gongini and many more outside designers.”
“Please let me know if you need any additional information at all, while I look forward to hearing back from you soon regarding your interest.”
My work was selected for their exhibition “Fetishism in Fashion” at M°BA. Of course I said yes. Who wouldn’t want to be in a company of Iris van Herpen, Rick Owens, Jean Paul Gaultier???
The exhibition is now on view in Arnhem, the Netherlands. If you are there you can go and enjoy. But you will not find my work there. Unfortunately the last minutes changes were like this:
“We also have received lower budgets and less exhibition space than we first were told, and so we are sorry that this has a restricting effect on things too.
Please know that the Li Edelkoort is a big admirer of your work and that this decision is only based on the exhibition as a whole rather than individual pieces that she loves.”
Well, I can still feel happy that I have been chosen by Li Edelkoort among others like Jean Paul Gaultier 
and that she loves my work. Good intentions
I think I have forgotten to show this feature on the blog. Lovely memories of the Summer too – a feature in Belle Armoire, Summer 2012, volume 12 issue 2, feat. in pg. 18-23.
Many thanks for Svetlana Batura, who made all photography for this article.
