The Modern Nomad

Category: Apparel

My name is Zohar Stollman, I’m a third year student at Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art, in Israel, studying fashion design. And this is my project proposal for the real leather International Student Design Competition. I’ve always been interested in hiking and outdoor apparel, and wanted my project to reflect that combination of utility and style, as well as tradition and aesthetics. I began researching outdoor clothing throughout history. I became interested in Bedouin cultures in the Middle East— itinerant peoples who preserved ancient traditions and still lived as nomads in the Sinai desert and southern Israel well into the 21st century. The concept of nomadic people sent me further across the globe, to the nomadic tribes of Mongolia. I loved the colors and textiles, the way they utilized leather, the intricate ways in which their garments were made-- sometimes of patches, sometimes out of a whole strip of hide. What struck me was the difference between their functional “everyday” clothing and their ceremonial attire, which is beautiful, colorful and playful, as well as holding traditional and religious significance. As I began work on the project, I started to combine modern functionalities and styles with traditional Mongolian clothing. Eventually leading to my final proposal, a long leather coat to be worn by the nomads of the future. I chose sheep leather for its light weight and soft texture. Then I started the assembly. The coat is constructed from multiple patches as well as cotton upholstery fabric, to use as an inner lining, inspired by Mongolian patterns, as well as recycled acrylic poly-fiber filling that I placed between the leather and lining, to give the garment more volume. I think the end result is an interesting mix of cultures and styles, combining the traditional and the functional, with both a modern feel and an archaic touch. Thank you for your consideration.

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