The Night Archive — a vampire’s wardrobe jacket that has survived centuries
Concept
The project explores the vampire’s life through clothing—not through the monster stereotype, but through habits, memory, and shifts across historical eras. The wardrobe of a being that lives for centuries retains traces of military uniforms, ceremonial attire, and contemporary street wear. Jacket R1 translates this archive into a piece wearable today. The exaggerated shoulders and high collar reference the formal silhouette of the 19th–20th centuries; nine pointed tabs recall a military clasp, while the reliefs and cropped length make the garment comfortable for movement. The project is designed as a small series for individuals who require structured outerwear with a theatrical sensibility—for the city, the stage, and evening events. The goal of the «Factory» phase is to refine the concept into a repeatable product: testing the fit on a mannequin, finalizing the construction technology, and preparing the production pattern set.
From Idea to Object
Garment Construction Silhouette: cropped, semi-fitted, featuring an extended shoulder line and freedom of movement. Placket: side seams joined; nine directional snaps on concealed buttons; upper snap positioned on the stand collar. Collar: standing collar without a fold-down, approximately 4 cm high. Front: two patch chest pockets with an opposing pleat and shaped flaps. Back: two contour seams from the armhole, a seamless side panel between the contours, a center back seam, without a vent. Sleeve: two-piece construction, 64 cm in length down to the cuff; separate enclosed 6 cm cuff; decorative snap on the cuff. Finishing: full lining, 23 mm shoulder pads, 0.2 cm working topstitching.
Materials and Hardware
The primary material should be a medium or lightweight suit fabric with slight stretch. For mass production, you must select an accessible alternative with confirmed composition, width, stretch direction, and shrinkage properties. The lining must be a smooth suit lining; for the stand, cuffs, and flaps, a fusible interfacing is required. The construction includes 23 mm shoulder pads and hidden snaps under the plackets. Before cutting, you must pre-treat a sample material and verify the compatibility of the fabric, interfacing, and lining. If the actual fabric lacks stretch, the fit should be checked on a muslin mockup before producing the final sample.
Size and Fit
The initial sample is calculated for an individual physique: height 188 cm, chest 92 cm, waist 82 cm, hips 96 cm, neck 41 cm. A size range for the collection has not yet been established; first, the base sample is tested, and then grading is performed if necessary. This prevents transferring an unverified fit across multiple sizes.
