How Hodakova is Redefining Fashion with Upcycled Materials

Fashion Reinvented: Hodakova Turns Everyday Objects into Couture

Cate Blanchett and the Rise of Silverware Fashion

Cate Blanchett has never worn so much silver—literally. Not in the form of sequins or crystals, but actual cutlery. Last April, she stunned in Vogue China, donning a corset crafted from two antique silver platters, resembling a 1950s Joan of Arc. Months later, she walked an LA red carpet in a halter-neck top made from 102 vintage spoons. By September, at the Toronto Film Festival, those same spoons were repurposed as metallic fringe on a black blazer.

The Visionary Behind Hodakova

This transformation of everyday objects into high fashion is the work of Ellen Hodakova Larsson, the Swedish designer behind Stockholm-based brand Hodakova. Her unconventional approach extends beyond silverware—she’s created dresses from leather briefcases, bags from belt buckles, and purses from riding boots.

Larsson sources her materials from businesses across Sweden, repurposing overstocked items. Speaking after her Paris Fashion Week show, she shared her creative process:

“It always starts with an intuitive mood. If something speaks to you, I follow the intuition and trust the process.”

Sustainability and Celebrity Endorsement

Founded during the pandemic, Hodakova has attracted fashion-forward celebrities like Tilda Swinton, Greta Lee, Lady Gaga, Emma Corrin, Saoirse Ronan, and Julia Fox. Larsson’s bold upcycling methods also earned her the 2024 LVMH Prize, which included €400,000 and mentorship from luxury executives. Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri praised her:

“It’s the first time we’ve seen a sustainability project with real numbers. She’s selling.”

Larsson’s designs redefine upcycling, a term coined in 1994 by German engineer Reiner Pliz. Instead of altering materials, she preserves their original shape—using ribbon rosettes, ballpoint pens, watch faces, and even envelopes as core design elements.

“When you put something in a different space and use it differently, it changes how you see it.”

A Childhood Rooted in Resourcefulness

Growing up on a horse farm in rural Sweden, Larsson was raised with a “make-and-mend” philosophy. Her family grew their own food, chopped their own wood, and repurposed materials creatively. Her mother sewed clothes from fabric scraps, instilling a mindset that later shaped Hodakova’s ethos.

From Wax Jackets to Wooden Cellos

Hodakova’s most exclusive pieces—such as a dress made from an inside-out wax jacket, worn by Saoirse Ronan at a New York screening—are available only through the label’s website. Made on demand in approximately three weeks, each item is uniquely crafted. Meanwhile, more commercially wearable designs are stocked at Dover Street Market, Ssense, and 24 other global retailers.

Pushing Boundaries with New Designs

In Larsson’s latest collection, trousers were the centerpiece—transformed into floor-length gowns, double-breasted coats, and even nun wimples. Each retained its original waistband, now cleverly repurposed as a belt or neckline. “I love trousers,” Larsson said simply.

Other standout pieces included:

• Bulbous fur coats made from discarded pelt hats.
• Medusa-style dresses, with belts springing outwards like serpents.
• Jackets repurposed from leather pants.
• A final runway look featuring a model dressed only in the shell of a wooden cello.

Sticking to Purpose Over Profit

Amid a global luxury downturn, many designers prioritize commercial viability. Not Larsson. When asked whether she feels pressure to create more wearable styles, she responded:

“You can’t do what everyone else is doing. If you act with good purpose, you’ll find solutions.”

With Hodakova, fashion is no longer just about garments—it’s about reimagining the everyday into something extraordinary.

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