The Living Archive — Concept to Creation

A conceptual capsule collection exploring fashion as both artistic expression and cultural archive. Inspired by historical dress and museum preservation, this project reinterprets sculptural silhouettes into modern, wearable forms through digital design and 3D visualization.

Overview

The Living Archive is a speculative collaboration between SKIMS and The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The project translates historical garment structures—such as corsetry, draping, and classical form—into contemporary shapewear-driven silhouettes designed for a modern consumer.

Concept

Rooted in the idea of the body as a living archive, the collection draws from classical sculpture, archival fashion, and museum curation. Visual inspiration includes draped marble forms, aged textiles, and exhibition spaces, reimagined through a refined, neutral color palette and sculptural design language.

Execution

The project was developed through concept ideation, digital textile creation, and 3D garment visualization. Emphasis was placed on form, compression, and movement, resulting in a cohesive capsule collection that bridges historical reference with contemporary fashion design.