Grandma makes dress out of 3000 condoms

Zhang Qiao'e wanted to raise awareness about AIDS (Getty)
Zhang Qiao'e wanted to raise awareness about AIDS (Getty)

A self-taught Chinese designer has stitched an environmentally friendly dress - made out of 3000 condoms.

Grandmother Zhang Qiao'e said the slippery lubricant made the stitching particularly difficult.

She made the dress in support of AIDs awareness, doubling her causes by showcasing it at an environmental awareness event.

"Many critics have raised concerns over the dress's hygiene, but there's no issue there", she told media.

"I collected the unused and expired condoms after they were left over from a previous public awareness campaign.

"I spent about a week ripping them open and attaching them to the dress.

"The hardest part to deal with was the excess of oils and lubricants."

Detail of Zhang's dress (Getty)
Detail of Zhang's dress (Getty)

Zhang is not the first to foray into the world of rubber dresses. They are a popular awareness-raising tool for family planning groups. Sometimes groups get students using condoms to help bust stigma around the barrier device.

Every year, Ohio group Condom Couture runs a protection-themed fashion event, in which students use condoms to create clothing - with some impressive results.

Grandma makes dress out of 3000 condoms

Family Planning New Zealand says the condom dress is very timely, with April's STI awareness month drawing to a close

Condoms are important to use and "your best protection against both pregnancy and STIs," they told Newshub.

You can get a prescription for condoms from your doctor or from any Family Planning Clinic. You can even do this by talking to a nurse on the phone and getting them to send the prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. The prescription costs $5 and you can get "lots of condoms."

It's worth noting wearing a condom on the outside of a dress will not prevent STIs or pregnancy. They must be carefully rolled onto an erect penis before intercourse.

Watch this video from Planned Parenthood US for advice on correctly wearing a condom:

Family Planning offers the following advice for condom use:

  • Use condoms from a trusted brand, not novelty condoms.
  • Check the expiry date. Condoms are made from latex and will weaken over time.
  • Store them somewhere cool, not in the glovebox of your car or in your wallet. It is ok to put them in your wallet before you head out, just don't store them in there.
  • Use water-based lube not oils, suntan lotion or Vaseline as they weaken condoms and cause them to break.
  • Use a new condom every time you have sex. If you realise you've put it on the wrong way, throw it out. 

Newshub.