Sask. fashion student wins award for tobacco-based project

A tobacco-inspired project has netted a Saskatchewan-born student a KeringAward for Sustainable Fashion.

Elise Comrie's project Tailored Tobaccois a collaboration with designersSuzanne DeVall and Dimora Colors to design a jacket using tobacco dyes.

Comrie,who was born in Regina but grew up in Saskatoon, is a Master's student at the London College of Fashion.

I really felt as part of my heritage as a Canadian and someone from Saskatchewan that tobacco is a sacred plant.- EliseComrie

Tobacco dyes are more sustainable than traditional chemical dyes used by fashion companies, said Comrie. When a chemical dye is used on products, the aftermath of the process involves dumping the remnants of the dye product into water, she said.

"[It's] really addressing the need for natural dyes where the water comes out clean and that's what's so exciting about tobacco dye," Comrie said.

She wanted to incorporate tobacco into the project because she felt a connection to it.

"I really felt as part of my heritage as a Canadian and someone from Saskatchewan that tobacco is a sacred plant," she said.

Comrie added that tobacco has healing benefits that aren't talked about as much.

"It has been seen in one negative dimension and I really wanted to bring a sustainability project to Kering that meant something more to me than just another sustainability angle," Comrie said.

In addition to the award, Comrie has won an internship with Italian designer Brioni.

She will depart for Rome in the new year to join a small team of designers.

Comriesaid, "It is really exciting to be working at that level."