Cyanotype Impressions by Anna Atkins, an inspiration for Mert & Marcus

Anna Atkins (1799 - 1871) is regarded as the first female photographer by producing a first photographically illustrated book entitled British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, published in 1843.

The English scientist and astronomer Sir John Herschel invented the cyanotype process in 1842 coming from his discovery of the light sensitivity of iron salts. Though the process was developed by Herschel, he considered it as mainly a means of reproducing notes and diagrams, as in blueprints.
It was Anna Atkins who brought this to photography. She created a limited series of cyanotype books that documented ferns and other plant life from her extensive seaweed collection. Atkins placed specimens directly onto coated paper, allowing the action of light to create a sillhouette effect.
Larry Schaaf, an independent photohistorian,  has written that "Anna Atkins combined a sense of beauty with precise observation and that she stands as one of the most innovative and bold of the early practitioners of photography".

Source: www.britannica.com and www.wikipedia.org

In the early twentieth century there was some experimental fashion photography with the cyanotype process.

Source : http://www.cycleback.com/fashion/seven.htm

Photo by Edward Linley Sambourne (1844-1910), source http://rbkclocalstudies.wordpress.com/tag/fashion/

And most likely Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott were inspired by the Cyanotype process for the Versace campaign spring-summer 2012 capturing Gisele Bundchen.

For more photos of Versace SS2012 ad campaign  www.versace.com