Reconstructed Denim Coat

With an emphasis in sustainability, I was tasked with reconstructing a garment from already-produced denim. Taking inspiration from Maison Martin Margiela as well as Jun Takahashi’s Undercover, I decided to create a coat featuring horizontal denim paneling, including various elements from the original pants. I was very pleased with the result which blended multiple features of around ten pairs of denim jeans, yet maintained a cohesive aesthetic throughout.

This was my first attempt embarking on a project of this nature. Construction of the coat featured numerous challenges, from the sourcing of the materials, to the construction of the fabric, to the lining of the coat, however, this project undoubtedly refined my skills as both a designer and a sewer. The biggest challenges I faced were creating the body pieces from the denim panels - which involved much deliberation on the placement each specific denim panel, what details to include, and accounting for other aspects of the coat, such as seam allowances and lapels - as well as the constructing the collar and lapels, which required several attempts to complete correctly.

In hindsight, there is only one main thing I would have changed; I would have finished the denim panels differently. Either, I would have zigzag stitched the overlapping seams as they are now, to prevent further fraying, or I would have simply created traditional seams for the transition points. I lean toward the former as I think the frayed bits and stray threads add a nuance to the overall aesthetic of the coat. Aside from that, there are only a few small panel adjustments I wish I had accounted for, but the end result was still extremely gratifying.

This project gave me a greater appreciation for not only construction, but reconstruction as well, which brings a completely different dynamic to a garment. Considering the sheer amount of material that we have access to in the form of already-produced garments, I would love to work reconstruction into more of my future projects and limit my use of new materials in an effort to be more environmentally conscious.