Launch Recite Me assistive technology
A pleated skirt featuring a vintage illustration of jagged, snow-capped mountains. The fabric is a pale cream with earthy green and brown tones at the base of the peaks.

Maps transformed into pretty dresses by Elisabeth Lecourt

—
Date
22 March 2013

French artist Elisabeth Lecourt has made, by hand, a collection of apparel meticulously folded from geographical maps. From a 14th Century map of Sir Francis Drake’s voyage to a diagram of rivers and mountains around the world, Elisabeth decided to work with maps because of their poetic charm, because even though they look specific, their information can sometimes be wrong. Calling them, “a portrait of people through their clothes, like a blue-print of their soul,” they are meaningful works of art that explore themes of sensitivity and vulnerability. If only you could wear them…

A dress made from a vintage yellow map of “Greater Los Angeles”. The garment is pleated and laid flat against a plain white background.
Above

Elisabeth Lecourt: Dans les Nuages, les Cigognes

A child's dress featuring a printed landscape of a coastal city with hills and small buildings. Several sailing ships float on the water in the foreground, above a banner of text that reads “VIEW OF SAN FRANCISCO FORMERLY YERBA”.
Above

Elisabeth Lecourt: Coquille de Noix et Allumette

A pleated skirt featuring a print of a vintage map. The design shows a detailed illustration of jagged mountains and a coastline against a pale yellow background.
Above

Elisabeth Lecourt: Pop Corn Edelweiss Pop

A pleated dress featuring a detailed vintage map print of a city. The map shows a network of red-roofed buildings and green landscapes across the fabric.
Above

Elisabeth Lecourt: Jerusalem Artichaud et Topinambour

A dress printed with a vintage map showing a coastline, mountains and a grid-like city. The fabric features illustrations of sailing ships, a compass, and sea creatures in the water.
Above

Elisabeth Lecourt: Le Poisson d’Argent Volant

A pleated skirt featuring a vintage map of the United States. A decorative cartouche on the right reads “A CORDIAL MAP OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “CHRISTOPHER G. SANT E.R.R.”.
Above

Elisabeth Lecourt: La Bulle de Savon Multicolore

A child's dress printed with a vintage map, featuring coastlines, rivers and a compass rose. A small bow is tied at the neckline.
Above

Elisabeth Lecourt: Le Voyage dans les Entrailles

Share Article

About the Author

Holly Wilkins

—

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.