Revolutionizing Fashion: Viktoria Marchev's Splash Silicone Rubber Clothing

Marchev's Unique Approach to Design Earns Prestigious A' Design Award

Viktoria Marchev has always seen garments as an abstract extension of the human body. Her latest collection, Splash, is a testament to this philosophy. Drawing inspiration from the vital role of water in human health, Marchev has created a line that symbolically represents this healthy flow. The collection is characterized by the use of circles and the injection of water and other colorful liquids between layers of silicone.

Marchev's experimentation with silicone rubber began in 2014. The molding-casting technology she uses requires precise preparation, with the emphasis on the design process rather than the making. The Splash collection is an advanced version of her Spring-Summer 2015 Clones collection, which earned her a place among innovative designers on Not Just A Label. The Splash title refers to the technology involving liquid being injected between layers of silicone.

The collection includes 18 looks, with sizes ranging from bodysuits to short and long dresses. The pieces made of silicone rubber do not require any sewing, resulting in a neat appearance. The pieces are flexible yet strong, eliminating wrinkles. The surface is waterproof, making cleaning highly efficient. The pouring process allows no waste during production, as there is no excess material in the mold.

The development of the technology started with Marchev's first silicone rubber collection, Spring-Summer 2015 Clones, and has been upgraded every year. Splash was conceived in 2018 and completed in August 2018. It was showcased at New York Fashion Week in the framework of Oxford Fashion Studio's Emerging Designer Showcase in September at Pier59 Studios.

One of the biggest challenges in this collection was making a large-scale piece. The designer faced the challenge of finding a balance between strength and fragility. Because of the short curing time of silicone rubber and the size of the project, the design itself required a lot of attention, as minor mistakes could result in repeating the whole making process.

Marchev's Splash collection is a testament to her innovative approach to fashion design. The collection's unique properties, combined with its eco-friendly production process, have earned it the Silver A' Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation.