Shivam Srivastava’s graduate collection ‘Into The Lattice’ was an artistic representation of the optical phenomenons that occur inside a crystal lattice. We all know and have heard of the magical properties of crystals and their usage in witchcraft, but what makes it magical? Shivam wanted to find a logical reasoning to it and bring to the world in a way that they could interact and play around with it. His collection flaunts a monochrome colour and each piece is a work of art that reflects his love for conceptual fashion.

After going through research papers, school textbooks and notes, Shivam had a clear understanding of the scientific processes. Using his art background he decided to create abstract line art from the main key words of his research, ‘Polarisation’. Using a number of fabric manipulation techniques and referring to books like ‘The art of manipulating fabric’ by Colette Wolff, and Shadowfolds by Chris K. Palmer, he created samples, 2d and 3d, of his line art. Finally going forward with a 3d surface that involved silk taffeta strips and insulation sheets to mould them, and silk chiffon to create a texture.

After his 3d surface was decided, Shivam had to come up with unique silhouettes. For this, he decided to create multiple samples of his surface and texture, place them on dress form and explore. This was followed by clearing each sample on photoshop and using it to create digital artworks. Also placing them on hand drawn silhouettes to explore the intricacy of the surface. These silhouettes were simplified before range finalisation and garment construction.

This is Shivam’s final collection line up. It features dresses, jumpsuit gowns, dramatic jackets, pants, and dramatic sleeves. Each garment is imagined as a moment frozen in time, each taffeta strip (ray of light) is polarising on the surface of the garment, created chiffon ripples and vibrations throughout. Due to the corona virus pandemic, he was only able to create one of the garments from the line up. This collection was also designed to be part of World of Wearable Art 2020 which, however, was also cancelled due to COVID-19.

‘This collection does not use technology but still stands for a very important phenomenon of science, which paved way for more that 80 percent things around us. Working on this during these past months made me explore yet another side of fashion. The side which you do not see in stores and streets, but one which you see on ramps and museums. Each garment is a piece of art and made for its very special artist.’