Modular Moulage is a research-based couture project that explores the meeting point between traditional haute couture techniques and the innovative logic of modular pattern-making. The work investigates how the sculptural, intuitive nature of moulage can coexist with the systematic, repeatable approach of modular design, opening new possibilities for creativity, versatility, and sustainability within the couture process.
The project is grounded in the idea that a couture garment does not have to be static or singular. Instead, it can become a dynamic system — a structure capable of transforming, adapting, and generating new silhouettes through the recomposition of its parts. For this reason, I developed a series of five elongated, fluid modules, each designed to be repositioned directly on the mannequin. Their curved shapes can overlap, intertwine and shift, producing volumes that mimic traditional draping while introducing a contemporary architectural rhythm.
As seen in the paper prototypes, the modules are initially constructed in rigid material to study movement, spacing and hierarchy, before being translated into fabric. Each module is attached with small hand-knotted threads, a deliberate couture choice that keeps the system flexible and reversible. This method allows infinite variations: by modifying only the placement of the modules, the designer can generate multiple garments — a core principle of sustainable design, reducing waste and maximizing the expressive potential of each material.
The result is a hybrid methodology, where couture craftsmanship and modular innovation coexist. The project maintains the tactile sensitivity and emotional depth of moulage, while introducing the functional intelligence typical of industrial pattern engineering.
“Modular Moulage” proposes a new vision of high fashion: a couture that evolves, transforms, and adapts — ethically, aesthetically, and creatively — without compromising its artisanal identity.
Please find attached below the full version of my thesis.