Fashion designer Lela Jacobs created this two piece garment in the spirit of artistic experimentation.

The vest was made in 2005, before she established her label, and she describes the process as “when I first discovered
the magic of silk.” The soft, flowing, semi- transparent fabric contrasts with the solidity of the resin coated sleeves, which were influenced by Victorian era fashions, and were made the following year.

Lela wanted to explore the idea of the sleeves as a separate piece that wasn’t attached to the body. The construction was challenging but for Lela that was part of the fun – technical challenges are one of the aspects of fashion design that continues to inspire her.

Read more about the history of home sewing in the New Zealand Fashion Museum publication Home Sewn.