President Ilves' old shirts find new lives as dresses
Fashion designer Marili Rooba is set to launch a new collection of dresses upcycled from shirts worn by prominent Estonians, including President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
"In July last year I finally found the courage to write to the Office of the President. Come February, the shirts had been gathered in a bag for me to be picked up from Kadriorg," Rooba told Eesti Ekspress, explaining the process of acquiring the presidential shirts.
Additional shirts for the collection were provided by local TV host Teet Margna, film director Arbo Tammiksaar and DJ Kristjan Hirmo among others.
Having gathered and unravelled the seams of over 400 men's shirts, the current collection, entitled "Siim", is set to debut in the resewn form of summery dresses at Kultuurikatel on May 9. The premiere takes place as part of Vintage Tallinn 2015, an annual gathering of businesses specializing in vintage goods.
Rooba's designs have previously been worn by Evelin Ilves, as well as last year's Estonian Eurovision entry Tanja Mihhailova. The first collection of dresses made from shirts was prepared by Rooba last year for her 10th wedding anniversary.
Editor: A. Kaer