This project explores how the inherent nature of materials can define garment structure. We worked with two highly elastic mediums, balloons and stockings, to study how material behavior generates form. To counter the materials’ lightness, water was introduced into the balloons to add gravity, while the stockings’ tensile strength secured these water-filled modules onto the body, creating a natural draping guided by weight.
2025
Workshop Project (Syracuse University)
Experimental Design & Installation Art
Syracuse, NY
Erin Cuevas, Chrisoula Kapelonis
Monica Hsieh, Marina Guo
The core aesthetic lies in a multi-dimensional gradient, both physical and visual. Structurally, the water modules gradually increase in size and weight from top to bottom. Visually, stockings of varying densities and embedded LED lights establish a clear internal-to-external glow, turning the skirt into a luminous installation that transforms light and weight into spatial expression.
Ultimately, the design transforms physical forces into visible form, reinterpreting the relationship between gravity, light, and material. It moves beyond traditional textiles, allowing the skirt to reveal how tension and illumination can shape a living, dynamic structure.