Dimensional Knit: A Futuristic Take on Winter Fashion

Martha L. Calderon's Award-Winning Design Inspired by Frank Gehry's Architecture

Calderon's inspiration for this design came from her admiration for Gehry's artistic and unique approach to designing structures. She wanted to create a garment that echoed the distorted shapes, contrasting organic and geometric lines that are characteristic of Gehry's work. The result is a futuristic winter coat that is as unique and sculptural as the buildings that inspired it.

The Dimensional Knit is more than just a winter coat; it's a wearable art piece. Crafted from cashmere, this fully fashioned knit piece features crochet detail around the waistline and shoulders. The fabric was hand-dyed with acid dye to achieve a precise gradient effect, adding another layer of uniqueness to the design. The coat forms shapes around the body, much like origami, giving it a different look from every angle.

Creating the Dimensional Knit was a meticulous process. The coat was made on a 3-gauge flat single bed knitting machine, and the cashmere wool was hand-painted with acid-dye. Each piece of the garment had to be washed separately until the water ran clear, a process that was both challenging and time-consuming due to the rapid absorption of the dye into the fabric.

The Dimensional Knit was part of Calderon's final school project and was exhibited at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Debut 2015 held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The project spanned from October 2014 to January 2015, with all the knitting done at home in San Diego, CA, and the dying taking place at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.

Calderon's hard work and innovative design paid off when the Dimensional Knit was awarded Silver in the A' Fashion, Apparel and Garment Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, and Calderon's Dimensional Knit certainly fits the bill. With its unique design and meticulous craftsmanship, the Dimensional Knit is a testament to Calderon's talent and creativity.