Poison Ivy - LIVING Costume

Created for the Dragon*Con 2017 Costuming Exhibition (and displayed again in 2018), this interpretation of the classic Batman villain Poison Ivy was created by growing foliage into traditional fabric costume pieces. The hollowed out platform heels form tiny greenhouses where potting soil and small cuttings grow into the ropes of ivy directed around the costume. The lace up sweater, which in the traditional Poison Ivy costume would constitute what little fabric the character would normally wear, has instead been substituted for a sweater made of live rose petals. The petals of over three dozen roses were meticulously adhered to the cloth base. The corset style front is laced with a strand of ivy growing from the base of the shoes. The arm brace has various strains of moss edged with rose thorns to create contrasting textures of soft and sharp that mirror the personality of the character.