Garments for the Grave

“Death will always be met with sadness, but the function of this garment, and indeed the intent inherent in the fashioning of Garments for the Grave, aims to gently guide the bereaved through what is one of the most profound and difficult encounters facing us all. The burial garment is the last skin that will be placed upon us, and will literally and symbolically merge with us in our decomposition and dissipation into the earth." Pia Interlandi

Artist and designer Pia Interlandi has come up with an intriguing idea. She questions whether we should be buried in our regular clothing. Interlandi says tailored clothes are very difficult to put on a dead body and perhaps we should be buried in something that is loose fitting. This is sort of an updated shroud idea. For me, the idea that we would be buried in a garment that is only for the dead is interesting. It make our clothing in death as much a right of passage as wearing a wedding gown is for marriage. I like it. It doesn't hurt that the images (from Interlandi's website) are beautiful.

The burial garments (prototypes at the moment) are made of simple, natural materials. As of today, you can't purchase these garments, but Interlandi has a Garments for the Grave website with a "coming soon" shop. Keep your fingers crossed. She also has an upcoming collaboration project with illustration Tegan Carter to that will interpret "body becomes landscape." There are some sneak-peek images on the website. You should take advantage and peek. They are lovely.