Delicious monsters: Let the green party begin

You can hardly enter a quasi-industrialised hipster haven without knocking into kokedamas.

These suspended naked plants of Japanese origin have become an ubiquitous part of our urban (and suburban wannabe-urban) landscapes. Spaces that would ordinarily not boast any plant life have been greened up, delicious monsters and all other leafy life forms inserted into every nook and cranny.

It's not surprising then that this trend has transplanted itself into the fashion realm, inspiring big green leafy prints this summer.

Online shopping portal Superbalist has turned into a virtual greenhouse with plant-life prints for men from such labels as Jack & Jones Vintage.

Local swimwear brand MSH has a variety of monokinis dominated by splashes of broad palm leaves.

Plant prints have popped up on international catwalks too, from Hedi Slimane's Spring '16 show to the bold hibiscus-print tops at Miuccia Prada's show, which advanced a vagabond sailor girl look.

DIG THIS: Gardens inspire Poetry's spring-summer look

A long-standing summer fantasy fixation with tropical islands seems to have been channelled through or revived by this new leafy print.

Poetry, the local chain, has joined the jungle party. At the recent launch of its spring-summer collection at Whatiftheworld Gallery in Cape Town, it introduced a leafy-looking collection on a greenhouse-like stage.

Suspended and populated by big leaf prints, some of the garments appeared like veritable kokedamas. (Of course it's much easier to maintain a leafy dress than a plant as it doesn't require watering, just a spin in the washing machine from time to time.)

A long, floaty maxi dress covered in a large leafy print takes the trend to the max. A pair of jogger pants is completely colonised by leaves. A less obvious or bold translation of this theme manifests in garments with prints where wisps of blue and pink filter through in the form of florals.

Florals might be a perennial print for summer collections, but the kokedama seems to have shifted attention towards overlooked leaves that were previously seen as supporting stars.

The leafy fixation has also determined the popularity of green and white prints for Poetry's summer collection, which evokes that spring-summer fecundity and crispness like no other colour combo.

Undoubtedly the vibe will catch the attention of younger fashionistas who might not have considered browsing in Poetry before. Belying the bold prints are soft viscose fabrics cut in simple styles. The collection looks easy to wear; soft dresses, tops and trousers that won't cling to the body and can be worn over bikinis.

Who knows - next summer we might be able to look forward to kale-printed dresses, the other green-fuelled obsession that has taken our world by storm.

Kale maxi dress, anyone?