Rachel Sacksner — BFA Fashion Design 2025

Collection

Tools of Survival

On November 11th, 1945, my great-grandmother was married in a wedding dress made from a World War II silk parachute. After surviving the Holocaust, that dress became more than fabric, it was a symbol of liberation and survival. My collection, Tools of Survival, is an homage to her story of resilience and rebirth. It draws on two powerful heirlooms: the parachute and a silver spoon, the only object to survive with her.

I sourced a vintage parachute and upcycled it into multiple garments, including my own vision of a wedding dress. The parachute’s original markings became personal stamps, honoring the journey of my great-grandmother's life. The spoon lives on as jacket closures and pendants, transformed from vintage spoons into symbols of endurance. Through tailored and soft structures combined, the collection pushes conventional boundaries while preserving history in every silhouette. It reminds us how even the most fragile things can be made strong again.

Bio

Having grown up in a family of strong, creative women spanning generations, Rachel Sacksner has always been inspired by the way in which one can tell stories through their art. For her, that artistic storytelling is expressed through design and garment construction. Specializing in womenswear, her work is crafted with deep intention and an eye for detail. Passionate about her family history, Rachel's work tells stories of her deep heritage and love for fashion history. With each collection she designs, she pushes herself to challenge conventional boundaries and the personal identity of the wearer. As a designer, she feels driven to the life of a garment. She strives to create clothes that not only tell their own stories, but also carry memories from a time before her, whether that's through second hand materials, found objects, or inspirations drawn from history.

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