Helena Papstel

A Good Day to Take Shape

Have you ever made something by hand? Often it happens that you take good care of it, and cherish it a little bit more, knowing the time and effort that went into making it. Realizing the value of artisanal craftsmanship. However, with today's fast-paced lifestyle and the convenience of receiving things quickly, priority for quality is often being overlooked. Traditional techniques, once embedded in everyday life, are gradually disappearing, along with the knowledge, care, and time they embody. Plica explores how these practices can be revisited and reinterpreted within a contemporary context. By drawing from material traditions, the project seeks to reconnect making with meaning.

I like to take my time when working on a project and pay attention to details. A good day for me includes testing, folding and reworking my patterns, where small shifts in form lead to unexpected results. I admire the concept of mastering a skill after hours and hours of working on the specific subject. This is my drive for producing on my own, and a day feels best when I can turn ideas into reality.

Plica begins with an investigation into the disappearance of artisanal craftsmanship in the context of mass production, seeking ways to draw inspiration from traditional methods without replicating them. The main technique used to shape the silhouettes is the craft of pleat-making. After the pleats have been formed, the rest of the elements of the footwear follow. The method also suggests possibilities for accessories such as gloves, bags and headwear. Plica reimagines traditional knowledge within a modern design language.