Alizah Zariwala

Alizah Zariwala

Collection
Image: Ciara wears the 'Vitangelo'; dress made out of collaged facial features.
Image: Diana in 'Ripley'.
Image: Vitangelo, Durden, Ripley, Bellmer & The Hundredth.

The Unseen Collection

‘The Unseen Collection’ explores the fear of perception and how that relates to self-identity, all through the lens of the uncanny valley. Inspired by a book where the protagonist goes mad after realizing no one truly knows him, I became fascinated with the unsettling idea that a different version of ourselves exists in everyone’s mind. This fear shaped my designs, playing metaphorically and literally with sight and the idea of being seen. Through mascot heads, cut-out dresses made of collaged faces, and doll-inspired pieces that confront the tension between true and perceived identity. Through an air of strangeness, I amplify the unsettling feeling of never fully knowing ourselves or being fully known by others, deepening the emotional weight of the collection’s exploration of fractured identity.
Video:

'The Unseen Collection' Fashion Film SS25

Image: Monica wears 'Bellmer'; the eye bra, cowl top and doll scarf.
Image: Bhavya wears 'The Hundredth' with an embroidered neck accessory.
Image: Diana in 'Ripley'.
Image: Diana wears the 'Ripley' Embroidered Doll Skirt.
Image: Mylan wears 'Durden'; Mascot headgear, leotard, embroidered doll wrap-around-chair shoe cover and thigh accessory.
Image: Monica, Diana, Mylan & Ciara in 'Bellmer', 'Ripley', 'Durden' & 'Vitangelo', respectively.
Image: Behind the scenes with Bhavya, Ciara, Diana & Monica in the garments.

Bio

A New York based fashion designer and a graduating senior at Parsons School of Design. My work exists between couture and conceptual art, often taking on a sculptural, emotionally driven form. My thesis, 'The Unseen Collection', explores themes of identity, perception, and the uncanny; blurring the line between true and perceived identity laced with an air of strangeness. I design instinctively, letting ideas evolve through storytelling. The interplay of form and structure becomes an organic part of my process, with shapes and materials naturally leading the way. I find joy in the unpredictable nature of such creation, where each step reveals something new.

Contact:

alizahzariwala1218@gmail.com

@theunseencollection_

@alizaharchive

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