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Rhododendrons

2024

In collaboration with Jagriti Luitel, a multidisciplinary space advocate, I designed a garment specifically for a zero-gravity environment, aiming to exaggerate how weightlessness affects fashion design.

Inspired by the idea of expressing belonging and individuality beyond Earth through fashion, this project explored the intersection of aesthetics and functionality of spacewear to envision a vibrant life for the future of space civilization. 

To test the garment's functionality and aesthetics, Jagriti participated in a parabolic flight simulating the weightlessness of space, in partnership with Aurelia Institute and Zero-G. This experience allowed me to observe firsthand how the garment behaved in zero gravity, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of designing fashion for space travel. 

The work completed here hopes to contribute to the evolving field of fashion in space, where human culture in the outer orbit will increasingly influence the unique requirements of clothing for astronauts and space tourists.

This project was covered by Canada's Global News in January 2025.

best enjoyed with sound

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concept development: 
I incorporated the zero gravity ornamentation aspects of my 2023 graduate collection, Arise, along with Luitel's home country of Nepal, to create a new expression of novel movement. 
We settled on a bodysuit similar to the one below, which I had made for figure skaters, as a second skin that would enable supported 360 degree movement, while maintaining physical modesty.

silhouette and materials: 
The design process involved selecting lightweight stretch materials and incorporating elements that would interact dynamically with the absence of gravity, such as ruffles that expand under weightless conditions.

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Creating the Blossom Element
The all-black garment is presented as simply a textural statement in 1-G, with striking red flowers “blossoming”, as the garment transitions into 0-G. Inspired by Nepalese national flower, the rhododendron, I created one of a kind motifs out of silk, with M&S Schmalberg, a fourth generation millinery factory, and one of the last of its kind in New York City.

Capturing the design intent
A photoshoot with photographer Jennifer Katzman and Jagriti in New York City to document the purest vision of the garment in motion. Trampolines and fans were utilized to authentically promote physical gestures similar to those in zero-g.

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The main event:
As part of the Horizon 2024 Cohort, Jagriti embarked on a historic flight for space-fashion, by successfully demonstrating the kinetic ornamentation of the zero-gravity design.

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© 2025 by Deborah Won

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© 2025 by Deborah Won

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