Hodakova made a bold statement as founder Ellen Larsson dressed celebrities in everyday items. Getty Images
Cate Blanchett is making waves in the fashion world with her unique outfit choices. Instead of the usual sequins and crystals, she has been seen wearing silver cutlery pieces as couture. Last year, she posed for Vogue China in a corset made from two antique silver platters. With her short, styled hair, she resembled a modern Joan of Arc.
Her bold fashion continued on the red carpet in Los Angeles, where she wore a halter-neck top made of 102 vintage silver spoons. The same spoons were later reimagined as metallic fringe for the hem of a black blazer she wore at the Toronto Film Festival.
Greta Lee turned heads at a "Tron: Ares" event in California last year, wearing a unique bustier top crafted from equestrian riding boots by designer Hodakova. Getty Images
These eye-catching designs come from Swedish designer Ellen Hodakova Larsson, founder of the independent brand Hodakova. Larsson doesn’t just use cutlery; she transforms all kinds of objects into fashion. She has made dresses from leather briefcases, handbags from belt buckles, and clutches from riding boots.
Actress Greta Lee wore one of Hodakova’s unique pieces—a bustier top crafted from equestrian riding boots—at a Hollywood event. Saoirse Ronan also sported the brand’s wax jacket dress at a screening in New York.
Most of Larsson’s materials come from donations by Swedish businesses. “We collaborate with different companies that give us their overstock materials,” she explained. After her latest show at Paris Fashion Week, where she showcased outfits made from guitar strings and musical instruments, she described her creative process: “It starts with a feeling. If something speaks to me, I just follow my intuition.”
At the latest Hodakova show, trousers were transformed into stylish double-breasted coats, featuring detailed belt accents. Getty Images
Hodakova was launched during the pandemic and has since gained a following among bold fashion icons, including Tilda Swinton, Lady Gaga, Emma Corrin, Julia Fox, and more. Larsson’s upcycling-focused designs have earned her major recognition, including the prestigious 2024 LVMH Prize, which awarded her €400,000 and a year of mentorship with luxury fashion executives. Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri praised Larsson’s success, saying, “It’s the first time we’ve seen a sustainability project with real sales.”
The concept of upcycling has been around for decades, but Larsson’s approach feels fresh. She works exclusively with discarded items, transforming them without altering their original shape. She has repurposed everything from watch faces to ballpoint pens and even paper envelopes. “When you place an object in a new setting, it changes how you see it,” she said.
The Hodakova show ended with a striking design featuring a hollowed-out double bass. Getty Images
Larsson’s creativity is rooted in her upbringing on a horse farm in Sweden, where her family lived self-sufficiently. Her mother made clothes from fabric scraps, shaping her resourceful mindset. This influence is clear in Hodakova’s latest collection, where trousers were turned into coats and dresses while keeping their original belts intact.
One of the most striking looks in her latest show was a model wearing nothing but the hollow shell of a wooden double bass. While many designers focus on selling practical clothing, Larsson stays true to her artistic vision. “You can’t do what everyone else is doing,” she said. “If you act with purpose, you’ll find solutions.”
