Rhododendrons

A zero-gravity garment. Parabolic flight.
The kinetic language of weightlessness.

2024

Building on the kinetic construction principles explored in Arise, where garments were engineered to transform through movement, this project pushed that logic into the most extreme environment imaginable: zero gravity.

Through Spacekind, a collaboration formed with Jagriti Luitel, a multidisciplinary space advocate. Together, a garment was designed specifically for a zero-gravity environment, aiming to exaggerate how weightlessness affects fashion design.

Inspired by the idea of expressing belonging and individuality beyond Earth through fashion, this project explored the intersection of aesthetics and functionality of spacewear, approaching construction through a layered logic: a fitted base structure designed to move with the body, and a secondary ornamental layer engineered to activate under zero-gravity conditions.

To test the garment's functionality and aesthetics, Jagriti participated in a parabolic flight simulating the weightlessness of space, in partnership with Aurelia Institute and Zero-G.

Covered by Canada's Global News, January 2025.

Moodboard
Rhododendrons mood board, reference imagery and color palette Rhododendrons concept board, garment silhouettes and flower motifs
Project Proposals
Rhododendrons project proposal
Blossom Prototypes 1 & 2
First flower prototype, pink silk petal construction First flower prototype, pink silk bud form First flower prototype, pink silk petals arranged
Second flower prototype, orange silk rhododendron with ruler for scale Second flower prototype, orange silk rhododendron bloom

Each silk flower individually formed and heat-set by M&S Schmalberg, a fourth-generation millinery factory, one of the last of its kind in New York City. Inspired by Nepal's national flower, the rhododendron.

Blossom Prototype 3
Third flower prototype, construction detail Third flower prototype, petal form
Third flower prototype, assembled bloom Third flower prototype, final form
Construction
Full garment on form, black bodysuit with attached flowers
Construction detail, flower attachment on fabric Construction detail, sewing flowers to bodysuit Construction detail, flower placement on sleeve Construction detail, finished flower cluster on garment
Construction, garment assembly progress Construction, garment assembly detail

A bodysuit similar to those made for figure skaters, a second skin enabling supported 360° movement while maintaining physical modesty. Ruffles engineered to expand under weightless conditions. Striking red flowers "blossom" as the garment transitions into 0-G. Jagriti requested a pocket be added for her cell phone, she would need it to capture her experience.

Capturing the Design Intent
Photoshoot, Jagriti in the Rhododendrons garment Photoshoot, flowers in motion Photoshoot, garment in simulated weightlessness

A photoshoot with photographer Jennifer Katzman and Jagriti in New York City. Trampolines and fans were deployed to authentically simulate the physical gestures of zero-g.

The Main Event, Horizon 2024 Cohort
Horizon 2024 cohort, group preparation Pre-flight, suited up Inside the Zero-G aircraft In-flight, crew at work

As part of the Horizon 2024 Cohort, Jagriti embarked on a historic flight for space-fashion, successfully demonstrating the kinetic ornamentation of the zero-gravity design.

Zero-g, flower detail floating Zero-g, flowers spreading in weightlessness Zero-g, full garment floating Zero-g, flower cluster detail

Each silk flower was individually formed and heat-set, then hand-attached at calibrated distribution points across the torso and sleeves, optimized for visibility at the moment of weightlessness.

Credits

DesignDeborah Won
WearerJagriti Luitel
PhotographyJennifer Katzman
Silk FlowersM&S Schmalberg
Flight PartnerAurelia Institute
OperatorZero-G
CohortHorizon 2024
PressGlobal News Canada
Year2024