Sara Halpern

Category: Apparel

Competitions: International

This presentation highlights the conceptual depth and creative exploration behind my five-piece collection, as well as a specific deep dive to my leather Aviator Bomber Jacket design, inviting you to engage with themes of tradition, conflict, and their reinterpretation through fashion. Over the past year, my life has been shaped by two profound themes: marriage and war. Originally scheduled to marry shortly after October 7th, our plans were abruptly disrupted by the onset of conflict. In the months that followed, this juxtaposition of joyous anticipation and stark reality came to define our existence. The sudden descent of war's surreal reality shattered the euphoria of impending nuptials, replacing it with existential concern. The fervor of preparing for marriage came to an abrupt halt amidst the chaos of conflict. This juxtaposition prompted a critical reevaluation of the societal constructs surrounding both weddings and warfare. My current project delves into the absurdities inherent in both the bride's journey and the ravages of war. Through meticulous exploration and reinterpretation of familiar elements from bridal and military contexts, I aim to capture the complexities of our contemporary reality. Each design reflects this narrative, crafted with intricate tailoring that mirrors the fractured perspectives seen through a broken mirror. Aviator Bomber Jacket Model: The Aviator Bomber Jacket model draws inspiration from the rugged leather jackets worn by World War I aviators. These jackets, designed for functionality and protection, have been reinterpreted with an exaggerated silhouette and feminine elements. I feminized the traditionally bulky aviator jacket by incorporating decorative elements like harness-inspired buckles and straps, creatively distorted for a surrealistic effect. The silhouette features a narrowed waistline and emphasizes hips, paying homage to historical corsetry and modern shapewear, which shape and define the female form. I specifically selected a corset, since this represents a basic component of the bridal world.

Category: Design

Competitions: International

My project’s inspiration started out from my father's cycling helmet. While researching this artifact I discovered that the helmet design was influenced by physiological processes in nature. Digital fashion is one of the required expressions of our generation. I therefore thought that it would be interesting to examine in the digital space, a space where the effects of nature are absent, designing an artifact which is inspired by nature driven processes. The entire model was influenced by technology, by using advanced digital tools and various virtual software packages, which enable significant savings in fabric and paper waste and maintaining the values of sustainability, which formed the basis for the execution of the project. As a starting point I 3D scanned my father's cycling helmet. I then transferred the scan to “MeshMixer” - a 3D software which assisted me in creating a silhouette utilizing a "virtual model" of the helmet on an avatar. I then manipulated digital effects that "mimic" physiological forces of nature in the digital space. This included mimicking forces such as wind and air and I checked how they affect the pattern of the helmet until I reached the desired silhouette. I then created my model utilizing a software program called CLO 3D. In parallel, I contemplated which materials would suit my project best, and translate the product in the best way from the digital to the physical dimension. That ias why I chose leather, as the leather’s stiffness will maintain the silhouette. The last step in the digital process is the model production process which is also still in the digital dimension. I printed the cut of the model with digital printing on leather and double Lycra.