Alina Krutakova: Pending Life

Pending Life explores the freeze response to stress—the feeling of putting one’s life on hold. Covered, unused furniture and the contrast between inexpensive protective coverings and luxurious fabrics inform the project’s material language of velvet and plastic.

Research

Pending Life concept, mind map and moodboard — Research into plastic-covered surfaces, exploring texture, folds and the contrast between protective coverings and the materials beneath

Plastic-covered staircase reference

Decorative curtain and tassel reference

Sketches

Research sketchbook with furniture, coverings and textile samples — Research and textile development

Coat silhouette sketches and construction studies — Silhouette and construction sketches

Set Design and Photography

Sofa covered in pale translucent plastic

Dark purple sofa wrapped in protective plastic

Wrapped roses arranged across purple fabric

Red roses enclosed in clear plastic

Roses and plastic studied against purple fabric — Set design and photography by ALINA KRUTAKOVA

Prototypes

Skirt and coat prototypes, toiles and garment development — Skirt and coat development

Final Outcome

Standing look with a black top and a silver gathered skirt

Silver gathered skirt with an asymmetric hem

Black top and purple gathered skirt

Detail of the short purple gathered skirt

Front view of the belted beige coat

Seated look with a beige coat and purple trousers

Fur coat and purple trousers on a covered sofa

Close-up of a fur coat look

Beige coat and purple trousers on a plastic-covered sofa

Purple trousers with contrasting extended legs

Photo and Muah — Valeriia GabeliiaModel — Anastasia Goluntsova