Kean Etro of the same-named Italian fashion house put together quite a charming instructional catalogue on how to customize the brand's white shirts with ingredients found in the kitchen. Chris from London sent me the link a few days ago and my jaw dropped in amazement.The "Cooked" Shirt by Kean Etro
My favorite would have to be the shirt stained with blueberries. It harkens back to my elementary school days when I would read about shepherds in the mountains of Europe dyeing their cloaks in wild berry juice simmered in a big black pot for a very long time.the recipeThe shirt is reborn in the most vivid shade of magenta by way of blueberry juice. The addition of whole fresh blueberries gives it that very intriguing mottle of blue all over.
Chris, who sent me the link, asked for tips on how to set the stains so that they don't fade in the wash. Ironing or blow-drying the shirt might help, but ultimately, I think the charm in the cooked shirt is that the stain is organic and that fading or discoloration are all part of it being natural. If the stain grows dim, then bake it again in the berries?
The recipe for "Shirt baked in the oven with blueberries" and other dishes ("Shirt dipped in coffee," "Shirt cooked in salt") can be found here.
Photos via Etro