The Zalea Artwear Ipantaro y'Ikoranabuhanga rikozwe n'Amaboko by Laili Lau

The Zalea Artwear Ipantaro y'Ikoranabuhanga rikozwe n'Amaboko by Laili Lau is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cy'icyuma in Igishushanyo cy'Imyambarire Competition Category.

IcyumaImyambarire· 2025

The Zalea Artwear Ipantaro y'Ikoranabuhanga rikozwe n'Amaboko

by Laili Lau

Client: Laili Lau

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cy'icyuma Winner in Imyambarire Category

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Colors

The Design

About The Zalea Artwear Ipantaro y'Ikoranabuhanga rikozwe n'Amaboko

Zalea Artwear ni ipantaro ikozwe n'amaboko ikoreshejwe amashashi y'imyenda yasubiwemo n'imyenda yatawe. Buri gice cy'umwenda gitoranywa kandi gikadondwa n'amaboko, bigatuma haboneka imigezi y'ibendera itandukanye. Imiterere y'ipantaro inini kandi ifite uduce tw'umwenda tumanuka bituma iyi jacket igira imiterere y'igishushanyo cy'ubugeni. Hakoreshejwe ikoti, ubwoya n'urudodo bya sike byasubiwemo, kandi amaboko manini y'iyi jacket atuma yambara byoroshye hejuru y'ibindi bikoresho. Iyi jacket ifite uburebure bwa santimetero 80 n'ubugari bwa santimetero 60 mu gatuza. Uburyo bwo gukora buhoro kandi n'amaboko butanga agaciro ku bumenyi bw'ubukorikori kuruta ubukorikori bwa masinini, kandi bugabanya imyanda y'imyenda.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cy'icyuma

The Zalea Artwear Ipantaro y'Ikoranabuhanga rikozwe n'Amaboko ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cy'icyuma, ishimwe ry'agaciro ritangwa ku bishushanyo byiza bihuza ibyo umwuga n'inganda bikeneye ku bihangano byashushanyijwe neza. Abegukanye icyuma bagaragaza ubuhanga bukomeye, ubumenyi bwihariye, imyumvire y'inzobere n'ubushobozi bwo guhanga bw'ababikoze. The Zalea Artwear Ipantaro y'Ikoranabuhanga rikozwe n'Amaboko biteganyijwe ko izaba igihangano cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifatika kandi gifite udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye icyuma gihuza uburyo bwiza bukoreshwa mu nganda kandi gifite ibiranga bya tekiniki bifite ubushobozi, bifatanye n'ubumenyi n'impano. The Zalea Artwear Ipantaro y'Ikoranabuhanga rikozwe n'Amaboko yubahwa kubera gukora neza, kandi yashushanyijwe kugira ngo inoze ubuzima, ifashe gutuma isi iba nziza.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Zalea jacket is a one-of-a-kind wearable art piece made from fabric scarves and discarded materials. Each scrap is thoughtfully selected and sewn, creating rich textures that tell a story of sustainable creativity. The oversized silhouette and cascading fabric strips give it a sculptural quality. It blends fashion with eco-conscious design, serving as both a garment and a statement against mass production, reflecting a deep respect for the environment.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions: 80 cm (length) x 60 cm (chest width). Loose sleeves, 55 cm long. Weight: approx. 1.5 kg. Materials: Upcycled cotton, wool, and silk, providing durability and a soft touch. Care: Dry clean or gentle hand-wash only, due to the delicate, hand-sewn structure. Each jacket’s unique textures and volumes stem from thoughtfully selected fabric scraps
Tags: Upcycled Fashion, Artwear, Handmade Jacket, Sustainable Design, Slow Fashion, Textile Art, Eco-Conscious, Unique Apparel, Recycled Materials
Production Technology: Constructed using hand-sewn techniques, the Zalea jacket is made entirely from donated and recycled fabric scraps. Each piece is manually assembled, a slow-fashion process that values craftsmanship over mass production. This sustainable approach merges discarded scarves and textiles into a cohesive, one-of-a-kind piece, embodying a dedication to eco-conscious design.
Design Challenge: Creating the Zalea jacket as a one-of-a-kind, wearable art piece involved overcoming challenges related to sourcing sustainable materials and developing a meticulous, labor-intensive process. This jacket was crafted as a desirable art piece to wear, made by hand with great care. The scarcity of suitable recycled fabrics and the slow, manual techniques added complexity, requiring creativity, resilience, and dedication. Driven by social and environmental awareness, every stitch honors the materials’ histories, reflecting a shift away from mass production and placing value on craftsmanship and intentional creation.
Research: The Zalea jacket draws inspiration from the azalea flower's delicate yet resilient nature and the protective garment concept. The name "Zalea" reflects the beauty and strength found in nature. At the same time, the jacket itself is designed to act as a modern-day cape—offering both physical comfort and a symbolic sense of protection and empowerment. Using upcycled materials, the jacket becomes a shield against waste and represents sustainable creativity, giving the wearer a feeling of strength and connection to the earth.
Inspiration: The Zalea jacket emerged from a soulful, spontaneous process, hand-sewn from fabric remnants collected over four years. In late 2022, I began creating without a set design, focusing on textures and movement. The process became a cathartic, anxiety-relieving practice that reconnected me with my craft. Using donated, recycled, and salvaged fabrics, the jacket honors the materials' histories while representing a fresh and mindful approach to sustainable fashion.
Project Duration: The Zalea jacket was created over approximately four and a half months, at a slow and mindful pace. The process took place in my studio in Brooklyn, NYC, where I enjoyed carefully hand-sewing the fabric scraps, allowing the design to evolve organically. This leisurely approach allowed for deeper creativity and connection with the materials, creating a truly unique and thoughtful piece.
Operation Flow: The Zalea jacket is a fluid, wearable art piece designed for both comfort and statement-making. Each fabric scrap is meticulously sewn, creating a textured, cascading effect. Its oversized silhouette invites layering, while its eco-conscious design and construction emphasize sustainability, encouraging the wearer to appreciate the garment's unique story and craftsmanship.
Patents: Im in the process of my trademark USPTO Filing Fee per Federal US Patent and Trademark filing
Image Credits: Photo: Anibal Mestre Wong
Model: Valeria Usganda
Production: Manaure Penalver