Farmer designs odd costumes to raise money for ill dad

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A Chinese farmer's unorthodox "DIY" street fashion has drawn both public ridicule and praise but he says it is all for a very good cause.

Dou Xiaogang, 38, captured public attention this month when video clips featuring him strutting down the streets went viral.

Daily objects used by Dou include a metal steamer rack. /VCG Photo

Dou, from Meishan City in China's southwestern Sichuan Province, has designed more than 300 outfits out of materials made of anything you can think of, including cookware, home appliances and even trash.

In a recent interview with Shanghai-based news website guancha.cn, Dou said he just wants to share videos online to make money so that he could pay for his father's cancer treatment.

Dou's friends help him put on an outfit comprised of an entire curtain complete with rod. /VCG Photo

He has been called a "lunatic" and a 'madman" but believes he is creating eco-friendly avant-garde art that he will someday take to the world's fashion centers.

Dou's modeling videos attracted more than 260,000 followers on Kuaishou, a short-video app favored by residents of small cities and villages.

Users send “digital rewards” – purchased with in-app currencies bought with real money – if they like what the presenters do. As an extra source of revenue, Dou can make an average of 300 yuan (about 44 U.S. dollars) each day by live-streaming his "street runway show" on the platform.

Screenshot of Dou's personal homepage on Kuaishou.

Dou, who came up with the idea early in 2017, originally intended to transform mundane objects into works of art as a hobby. "I want to create a rural-style Victoria's Secret fashion show by making outfits out of recyclable items," he told the PearVideo.

However, misfortune befell him last year when he was involved in a car accident and his father's cancer recurred. As he was desperate for money, Dou decided to take his performance seriously as a way to earn money online.

Dou showcasing his outfits comprised of discarded keyboards (L) and blue-and-white porcelain plates. /Screenshot via Kuaishou

He has posted at least one video almost every day, each covered with a new costume since he started regularly updating on Kuaishou two months ago. "I keep thinking new designs even when I am sleeping," Dou said.

Dou remains confident about his handmade outfits and is thrilled with the support he gets from family and friends.

"Nobody wants to buy my costumes and I admit some of them are too flamboyant to wear in daily life," he said.

The designer has made an eco-friendly outfit out of ginkgo leaves. /VCG Photo

Viewers' reactions to Dou's costumes are mixed as some believe he is just playing to the gallery while others say they are inspired by his "bold artworks full of creativity."

"I'm not sure if my design is a real art or not but I don't care what others think," said Dou, who aims to attract ten times more followers and raise more money for his ailing father.

(Top image: Dou Xiaogang's outfits made out of everyday items including steamer racks, bamboo fans and an entire curtain. /VCG Photo)