Rational Fashion
Every day for the past two years, Abigail Glaum-Lathbury has worn one of six versions of the same jumpsuit. A professor of fashion design at the School of the Art Institute, Glaum-Lathbury created the outfit with Los Angeles-based visual artist Maura Brewer to "explore the possibility of a universal garment that could be worn in any situation," she says. Together the pair form the Rational Dress Society, and sell the product, manufactured in the U.S., under the name Jumpsuit, calling it "an experiment in counterfashion." Since devoting herself full-time to the one-piece lifestyle, Glaum-Lathbury doesn't miss her old clothes at all. She cherishes the reduced laundry load, she says, among other perks: "I think the thing that surprised me the most was just how little I missed the stress and anxiety of picking out the right outfit for the right occasion. I learned that I loved not having to pick out clothing or go shopping!"
The unisex jumpsuit—which has been worn by at least two couples in their weddings—is sold according to a sizing system "that can accommodate 248 body types," with videos available online to help potential wearers determine the best fit. Right now RDS is also promoting a movement called Make America Rational Again, for which it's collecting "gently used and emphatically discarded" Ivanka Trump-brand garments to be turned into fibers for a special-edition jumpsuit, with proceeds going to the LA-based Garment Workers Center. A tote bag and poster with the MARA logo will be on sale at jumpsu.it soon. Printed by local studio Sonnenzimmer, the posters were made with paper recycled from Ivanka Trump's books.
The unisex jumpsuit—which has been worn by at least two couples in their weddings—is sold according to a sizing system "that can accommodate 248 body types," with videos available online to help potential wearers determine the best fit. Right now RDS is also promoting a movement called Make America Rational Again, for which it's collecting "gently used and emphatically discarded" Ivanka Trump-brand garments to be turned into fibers for a special-edition jumpsuit, with proceeds going to the LA-based Garment Workers Center. A tote bag and poster with the MARA logo will be on sale at jumpsu.it soon. Printed by local studio Sonnenzimmer, the posters were made with paper recycled from Ivanka Trump's books.
Originally published in the Chicago Reader.
