Dear Shaded Viewers,
A quartet of visionaries—Virgile Biosa, the Art Director; Martina Ponzoni, the Ideator; Daniele Scarante, the 3D Fashion Lead; and Erisa Ibrahimi, the Business Consultant, Advisor, and Senior Pattern Maker—have united their talents to birth d_archive. In a recent encounter with Daniele in Rome, the night before his six-hour workshop at Romantica Station, at my request, the essence of d_archive’s mission unfolded before me. Daniele’s journey had taken him from Antwerp, where another workshop had elucidated the intricate thought processes behind d_archive’s creations.
Antwerp’s Mode Museum beckoned d_archive to breathe digital life into a venerable 115-year-old ensemble from its hallowed collection, destined for the spotlight in the exhibit “Future Front Row.” Typically confined behind glass, these archival treasures found liberation through digitization, rejuvenating them to animate once more upon a virtual form. The ingenious 3D replicas not only pay homage to the originals but also serve as invaluable educational tools, safeguarding heritage while inviting exploration without peril to the originals.
At the core of d_archive lies a dedication to melding 3D technologies with time-honored techniques, a vision palpably embodied at Romantica Station. Each historic garment’s essence is meticulously transcribed into the digital realm, preserving not just its aesthetic but also its technical intricacies. This digital dexterity ensures the preservation of iconic pieces, sparing them from the perils of celebrity vanity, as witnessed in the infamous Marilyn dress debacle.
Yet, d_archive’s mission extends beyond preservation—it’s a beacon of innovation and education. Their workshops, such as the inaugural “Digital Archives: A Playful Exploration of Fashion Heritage” at Antwerp’s MoMu, breathe life into history, allowing participants to reimagine and reconstruct garments with boundless creativity. In this realm of playful exploration, the boundaries between observer and creator dissolve, offering a rare chance to engage intimately with fashion’s storied past.
Below please find a list of the people that worked on this project :
Historical Costume: MoMu Antwerp
Creative Direction, creation of the 3D replica, CGI: d_archive
Pattern Making: Samira Lafkioui
Digital Textiles: Bakermat Antwerp
Character animation and VFX: Samuel Aldridge
Sound design: Lola Ilegems
Motion capture: Mocaplab Paris
For those seeking to delve deeper into d_archive’s transformative work, a journey awaits at www.darchive.io or through contact@darchive.io.
