Anatomically correct for a garment, this coat was inspired by both the Ruby Throated Hummingbird and the rich tropical colors of the Caribbean hummingbirds. The body is teal silk dupionni with ruby, gold and ivory silk detailing.

Wearable Art Gallery

Accessories -

• Jewelry
• Silk Pajamas & Kimono

Silk Hummingbird Evening Coat

Finalist for a Niche 2001 Award

The Arawak Indians of the Caribbean thought of the hummingbird as a symbol of rebirth, as they seemed to always return in the spring. The Pueblo Indians thought the hummingbird was a symbol of joy.

The back is made from a separate panel with separate feathers attached to fall in the pattern of a flying bird. The breast, back, hood and feathers are covered in stitching, forming a texture indicative of feathers covering a bird's body.

The sleeves, or wings, are cut in similar layers to a bird's wings, carefully stitched, pleated and beaded.

Worn open or closed, the coat is light and fun to wear for formal or festive occasions. It is fully lined in teal silk charmeuse. The "wings" are both the charmeuse and the dupionni with garnet beading.

WA-4 Hummingbird Coat.This one-of-a-kind garment.

Designer: Randi Hillesø

Phototography: Lise Metzger