Cape Town-based fashion designer Kenan van Kooij designed a dress made from recycled plastic bottles.
Image: Instagram.
I love a bit of creativity. The hands-on kind. The kind where someone actually sits down, works with materials, experiments a little, and creates something from scratch.
These days it feels like everything is generated, automated, or spat out by artificial intelligence, so when someone shows real craftsmanship, you appreciate it even more.
That’s exactly why Cape Town-based fashion designer Kenan van Kooij caught my attention.
He recently shared a bold new piece that proves fashion innovation doesn’t always come from fancy fabrics or luxury ateliers. Sometimes it starts with something as ordinary as a plastic water bottle.
And somehow, he made it look fabulous.
“My latest piece explores experimental modular innovation through the use of recycled plastic bottles,” van Kooij explained.
Now listen… it’s giving. It’s slaying.
The halter-neck design shimmered in a gorgeous teal tone that instantly stood out. It has that sparkling water bottle glow but make it fashion.
The colour alone had me smiling because teal was also the colour of my matric ball dress, so clearly I’m already emotionally invested.
Van Kooij explained that the creative process started with sourcing the bottles from friends, family and local restaurants in his area.
“I cleaned them and then would cut them into shapes. I then melted and moulded them,” he said.
The result? A crystal-like texture that reflected light beautifully and gave the dress a surprisingly luxurious glow.
It looked better than some of the outfits we’ve seen recently at major red-carpet events. The SONA looks? The Met Gala moments? No tea, no shade … But this recycled bottle number is holding its own.
One of the key steps in creating the dress involved carefully puncturing each plastic pellet using a heated pencil gun.
This step allowed van Kooij to thread and assemble the pieces together while also shaping the plastic, helping the material form the flexible, jewel-like structure that gives the dress its signature sparkle.
After assembling the pieces, he placed the “Sashimi Dress” on a mannequin before eventually finding the perfect model to bring the design to life.
But what really stood out to me is that comfort matters to this designer. Because let’s be honest, there’s nothing worse than wearing a dress that looks amazing but feels like a punishment. Struggling to breathe, scared to sit down, and holding your bladder for hours? Absolutely not. No thanks.
The internet clearly agrees. Commenters are rooting for van Kooij and praising his creativity, with some even suggesting he should design something for Grammy-winning star Tyla.
And honestly? I can see it. Tyla in this teal recycled masterpiece?
Slay.