Vintage-inspired shelf bust dress

Photo by David Renshaw

With beaded smocking detail. (More images...)

Cocktail Dress

Photo by David Renshaw

Vintage-inspired dress in salvaged double-knit jersey

Clothing for Orciny

A design fiction proposal to ease navigation of the urban condition described in China Miéville's novel The City & the City. In the geographically intertwined cities of Beszel and Ul Qoma, it is a major crime to cross the border, or even to admit to the existence of the city on the other side. Each city has distinctive mannerisms and aesthetic traditions, and citizenship and "political location" are as much determined by conformity to the city's norm as they are by physical location. I propose a costume for traveling between cities as easily as walking. Clothing for Orciny was exhibited at the Detroit Design Festival in September 2011 as part of the Border Town project. (More images...)

Cyborg Spyglass

Photo by Dominic Dagradi

Gel frames mounted on a servo powered by Arduino, which dynamically filter light. Cyborg Spyglass was shown as part of the student robotic art show Mashings at the Pittsburgh Filmmakers gallery and at the Carnegie Science Center, both as part of Robot 250 in Summer 2008.

Gorget for Botticelli's Venus

Photo by Vincent Zeng

Investment-cast aluminum jewelry.

RUR

Collaboration with the CMU School of Drama to produce electromechanically enhanced robot costumes for a potential production of Rossum's Universal Robots. (More images...)

Instamatique

Instamatique was an experimental art show at the CMU student art gallery, the Frame, in April 2007: I made twenty-four dresses in twenty-four hours, in front of a live and internet-based audience. At the same time, Dominic Dagradi was to shoot, develop, and print fourty-eight photographs. We set up shop in CMU's student-run art gallery, opened our doors to the public, and had a team of volunteers documenting our process on the internet. With a limited palette of inexpensive materials and an even more limited timeline, the goal was to produce dynamically and not dwell on either successes or failures. Additionally, the festive atmosphere of the show encouraged many otherwise art-apathetic members of the community to look in on our progress. (More images...)

Zottt

Model: CC

Cyanotype printing of electrograms on muslin.

Yor Jacket

Muslin jacket lined with bamboo fleece and flannel with cyanotype print appliqués.

Lunar Gala 2006

Photo by J.T. Trollman, © 2006 The Tartan

A set of six costumes based on characters from A Midsummer Night's Dream, for the student-run fashion show Lunar Gala. (More images...)

Halftone Dress

Photo by Vincent Zeng

Formalwear with a laser-cut hem: an elaborate ploy to avoid the most boring part of dressmaking. (More images...)

Hoop Skirt

Photo by Dominic Dagradi; Model: CC

Cotton skirt cut in one piece on the laser cutter, with ribbon waistband and wire hoop.

Green Dress

Photo by Vincent Zeng

A dress in Barenaked Ladies' favorite color, made out of dumpstered fabric and findings. (More images...)

Polka Dots

Photo by Vincent Zeng

Sale chiffon and old curtains.

Fish Necklace

Photo by Vincent Zeng

You'd be surprised how many people have never before seen a fish necklace.