Art in the name of fashion

In conversation with the talent behind Madison Avenue's silverware dress

The relationship between the worlds of fashion and art can be thought of as a symbiotic one. Though fashion can’t exist without art, the latter often disregards the former with a passion. Forever doomed to be an affair of rivalry, yet of harmony. True balance is achieved when the two worlds collide. Filipa Mota, a design student at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in the city of New York, proved that a union between the two creative universes is not only possible but ecstatic. We talked with the talent behind the silverware dress that adorned the front of the Dolce and Gabbana store, in Manhattan’s Madison Avenue. “I’ve always been fascinated by the world of art and design,” says Mota. Although there from the start, her interest in fashion grew stronger and she grew older. In fact, it was that very passion that led her to study graphic design in university. “It gave me the opportunity to learn more about fashion editorial design,” she reveals. Like most creatives in the making, Mota had to uplift her life from her home country of Portugal for a better chance of successfully pursuing a career in the arts. Having already experienced the American lifestyle, during her year abroad in Boston, Massachusetts, she ended up enrolling at SVA. Most fashion and art studios having offices, or even their headquarters, in New York. There’s little to no doubt that, for anyone in a creative field, the Big Apple is the place to be. “I love how resourceful New York City is. There are so many great museums, galleries, theatres, musicals, and libraries. The street art, the architecture... It really makes it hard for me to want to be anywhere else,” Mota confesses. It’s a truth universally acknowledged, however, that artists and creatives across the world have always had their craft underestimated, and often ignored, by the rest of the world. “One of the things that worries me most is how tough it could be to constantly work with clients that don’t trust your creative decisions,” says Mota. Perhaps it’s easy to think about the possibility of living in a world without art up until the realisation that creativity is everywhere. Despite the tender age, Mota’s career as a designer has already gotten its fair share of exposure. Although admitting that she hasn’t yet found her rightful place in the creative industry, some of her past projects have already left their mark on the streets of the city Mota now calls home. As part of a collaboration between SVA and the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, Mota joined the One-of-a-Kind Luxury event and exhibition. The task at hand? Creating a fashion ensemble made out of a single material. The designer’s choice of using silverware came with a number of obstacles. The 1920s-style cocktail dress is made of 382 forks, 59 spoons and two ladles — while its accompanying bag uses 50 forks and two ladles. “The biggest challenge was understanding the best way to make everything stay put,” reveals Mota, “the stainless steel of the silverware is really smooth and it doesn’t adhere easily. The weight of the design was also what made it so complex. The dress is super heavy,” adds Mota. The finished piece was installed in its own glass case and found a temporary home in front of the Dolce and Gabbana store in Manhattan’s Madison Avenue. So what’s next for the young designer? “I’ve already started thinking about what my life will be like after college,” says Mota, who is graduating from SVA in a year from now. “Although I absolutely love how fast-paced life in New York is, I can’t really predict whether or not I’ll stay in the city. I guess I’ll find out sooner rather than later!” Written for AURORA | May 2018.

In conversation with the talent behind Madison Avenue's silverware dress

The relationship between the worlds of fashion and art can be thought of as a symbiotic one. Though fashion can’t exist without art, the latter often disregards the former with a passion. Forever doomed to be an affair of rivalry, yet of harmony. True balance is achieved when the two worlds collide. Filipa Mota, a design student at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in the city of New York, proved that a union between the two creative universes is not only possible but ecstatic. We talked with the talent behind the silverware dress that adorned the front of the Dolce and Gabbana store, in Manhattan’s Madison Avenue. “I’ve always been fascinated by the world of art and design,” says Mota. Although there from the start, her interest in fashion grew stronger and she grew older. In fact, it was that very passion that led her to study graphic design in university. “It gave me the opportunity to learn more about fashion editorial design,” she reveals. Like most creatives in the making, Mota had to uplift her life from her home country of Portugal for a better chance of successfully pursuing a career in the arts. Having already experienced the American lifestyle, during her year abroad in Boston, Massachusetts, she ended up enrolling at SVA. Most fashion and art studios having offices, or even their headquarters, in New York. There’s little to no doubt that, for anyone in a creative field, the Big Apple is the place to be. “I love how resourceful New York City is. There are so many great museums, galleries, theatres, musicals, and libraries. The street art, the architecture... It really makes it hard for me to want to be anywhere else,” Mota confesses. It’s a truth universally acknowledged, however, that artists and creatives across the world have always had their craft underestimated, and often ignored, by the rest of the world. “One of the things that worries me most is how tough it could be to constantly work with clients that don’t trust your creative decisions,” says Mota. Perhaps it’s easy to think about the possibility of living in a world without art up until the realisation that creativity is everywhere. Despite the tender age, Mota’s career as a designer has already gotten its fair share of exposure. Although admitting that she hasn’t yet found her rightful place in the creative industry, some of her past projects have already left their mark on the streets of the city Mota now calls home. As part of a collaboration between SVA and the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, Mota joined the One-of-a-Kind Luxury event and exhibition. The task at hand? Creating a fashion ensemble made out of a single material. The designer’s choice of using silverware came with a number of obstacles. The 1920s-style cocktail dress is made of 382 forks, 59 spoons and two ladles — while its accompanying bag uses 50 forks and two ladles. “The biggest challenge was understanding the best way to make everything stay put,” reveals Mota, “the stainless steel of the silverware is really smooth and it doesn’t adhere easily. The weight of the design was also what made it so complex. The dress is super heavy,” adds Mota. The finished piece was installed in its own glass case and found a temporary home in front of the Dolce and Gabbana store in Manhattan’s Madison Avenue. So what’s next for the young designer? “I’ve already started thinking about what my life will be like after college,” says Mota, who is graduating from SVA in a year from now. “Although I absolutely love how fast-paced life in New York is, I can’t really predict whether or not I’ll stay in the city. I guess I’ll find out sooner rather than later!” Written for AURORA | May 2018.

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. 28 June 2019 .