Lexus has bridged the worlds of cars and high-end fashion with a new project that challenged four fashion designers to create unique clothing pieces and accessories from more than 2,000 individual parts of a completely dismantled CT 200 hybrid hatchback for an advertising campaign that will appear in the January 2012 issue of Vogue magazine.

The Japanese firm’s goal is to highlight the fact that the CT hybrid is 90 percent recyclable.

Fashion designers Moss Lipow, Eddie Borgo, John Patrick, and Alejandro Ingelmo used all sorts of parts from crank bearings to exhaust gaskets to create the four fashion accessories.

“Merging the worlds of luxury automobiles, art and fashion is another example of how Lexus is ‘Engineering Amazing’ or maybe more appropriately, ‘Engineering Unexpected,’” said Brian Smith, vice president of marketing for Lexus. “We were able to challenge four designers to turn one of our most progressive hybrid vehicles into innovative fashion pieces, inspiring the designers, and the world, to see things differently.”

Mind you, this is not the first time we’ve seen fashion designers using automobile components. Just recently, Ford UK commissioned Cornish designer, Katherine Hawkins, to construct a unique piece of jewelry made out of select Focus parts.

Aside from making the centerfold on Vogue, the Lexus collection will be on display December 1-2, at the opening day of Art Basel Miami Beach, and will then be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund (CFDA).

[From Lexus Press Release]
  • “Environmental Crown of Virtue”—A truly head-turning piece designed by Moss Lipow using a transmission starter and exhaust manifold gasket.
  • “The Valve Collection”—Designed by jewelry creator Eddie Borgo using valve lifters, crank bearings and hose clamps.
  • “Nomadic Sanctuary”—A sleek trench coat, shorts and clutch designed by John Patrick, featuring floor mats made from plant-based plastic, sustainable sound-dampening material, wire harness, leather seat covers and cargo covers
  • “The Luna Shoe”—Created by Alejandro Ingelmo using armrest leather trim and clear plastic tubing.

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