Garment Design¶
At the heart of Arima: The Botanical Alchemist lies the dress, the central piece around which all other elements orbit. More than a garment, it is a living canvas, a vessel designed to host growth, transformation, and narrative. It carries the emotional, botanical and symbolic weight of the project, embodying the essence of a modern-day witch: wise, free, and deeply connected to the natural world.
Design¶
The base dress was envisioned to be flowy and ethereal, made with natural fabrics that respond to the movement of the body and the environment. It features a fitted bodice that gently shapes the torso, with a deep open back to evoke freedom. From the waist down, the dress expands with volume and softness, allowing the air and light to move through it, reflecting both the dreamlike aesthetic and the organic growth it’s meant to support.
The design process began with a rough sketch, a spontaneous visualization of what the witch of this new era might wear. From there, the concept evolved organically, always with the understanding that the dress itself should remain visually simple.
The silhouette holds a subtle whimsical quality, inspired by the mystical figure of the witch. However, rather than drawing from fear or darkness, this design reflects a celebration of healing, wisdom, and connection to nature. It was essential that the wearer, the "good witch", could feel light, unburdened, and empowered, fully in tune with the botanical life growing from the garment.
Concept¶
The simplicity of the dress was essential to give space and presence to the biodegradable pots, the living modules integrated into the piece. The result is a garment that doesn’t compete with its natural elements, but rather frames and amplifies them.
Each biodegradable module sewn into the dress is unique and was carefully designed to represent a different body system, symbolizing the wearer as both a caretaker and an extension of nature’s intelligence. There are six distinct module designs, each inspired by a specific system of the human body:
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Cardiovascular System – Circulates blood and oxygen throughout the body.
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Nervous System – Coordinates sensation, movement, and communication between body and brain.
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Respiratory System – Manages the intake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide.
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Digestive System – Breaks down food and absorbs nutrients.
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Reproductive System – Focused here on the female reproductive system, as the project embraces and celebrates womanhood and its generative power.
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Urinary System – Regulates fluid balance and removes waste from the body.
Technical development¶
All six modules were designed using Grasshopper, a parametric design program, and are inspired by the venation patterns found in leaves, further reinforcing the deep connection between human biology and the plant world. (More information on the Modules Chapter)
For the technical development, the patterns of the dress were created using Clo 3D, a digital fashion design software. This allowed for precise experimentation with volume, proportion, and material behavior, ensuring the final garment aligned both aesthetically and functionally with the rest of the project’s components.
