Even before the pandemic, I loved a good nap. But since the lockdowns began, my little siestas have become a survival mechanism. In the midst of long days, full of exhausting Zoom calls, I look forward to a few minutes of shut-eye on my sofa in the afternoon. I’m not alone. One of the most popular fashion trends this year was a dress designed specifically for napping, from a brand called Hill House Home. (I own three.)
Santa Kupča, a Latvian designer who recently graduated from the Design Academy of Eindhoven, has taken this idea to the next level. She created a collection of three garments called the Stuck-At-Home Masquerade. They’re each made from a material that looks like a duvet, so you don’t even need to find a blanket when you take your midday pandemic nap. For now, these are just conceptual, but if she decides to manufacture them, I will be the first to sign up for the waiting list.
Kupča designed each of the pieces at home while in the throes of lockdown in Amsterdam, using materials that were lying around, from polyester fabric to an actual duvet. And to make the project even more meta, each captures a different aspect of the reality of quarantine life.The outfits are meant to be works of performance art, but I really hope Kupča finds a way to commercialize this project. It’ll make transitioning from Zoom to nap time so much easier.
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