Concept
A series of custom pullers, crafted from translucent jewelry resin, transforms the zipper into a decorative accent. The voluminous ornamental forms attach to the placket using a metal carabiner.The project is developed as part of a diploma collection focusing on modular garment hardware and translates its visual language into outerwear accessories.
The core of the project is personalizing clothing through a small, interchangeable detail. A conventional fastener becomes a place for voluminous ornamentation that can be matched to the color and character of the overall look.
The project is aimed at individuals who build their aesthetic through accessories, are interested in independent brands, and love customizing their apparel.
Materials
Series Sketches
The series includes three ornamental forms unified by symmetry, flowing lines, and the alternation of open and filled sections. Each design features a distinct silhouette: branching, looped, and elongated teardrop. The overall construction principle allows the pieces to be perceived as a single collection, despite variations in form and color.
Technical Sketch and Visualizations
The construction features a cast resin body and a removable metal carabiner ring. The ring connects the decorative element to the standard zipper pull tab.
Method of Production
1. Sketch Development. Identifying plastic forms, refining silhouettes, and developing the decorative elements for future pullers.2. Master Model Creation. Hand-sculpting voluminous figures from polymer clay based on the developed sketches. Adjusting curves, thickness, and proportions.3. Master Model Preparation. Baking the polymer clay, sanding, and leveling the surface in preparation for mold-making.4. Silicone Mold Making. Casting the master models in soft molding silicone, allowing it to cure, and carefully extracting the figures.5. Color and Material Selection. Experimenting with pigments, transparency, color transitions, and decorative effects using epoxy resin.6. Casting the Pieces. Pouring colored epoxy resin into the prepared silicone molds, removing air bubbles, and allowing the material to fully cure.7. Finishing. Removing the casts from the molds, clearing excess resin, sanding, and polishing the surface to a high gloss.8. Hardware Installation. Attaching a detachable carabiner ring to connect the puller to the zipper slider.9. Final Product Testing. Assessing the strength of the attachment, ease of use, weight, and the accessory’s integration with apparel.
Visualizations
The pink model is constructed using paired loops and smooth intersections. It features an optional holder for a tube of lip balm in the central section.
Pink lip balm holder with case clasp
Technical Information
The puller collection is designed for small-batch production while retaining the handmade quality of every piece. For the creation of three decorative molds, master models are made from polymer clay and individual silicone molds are created, allowing the pieces to be recast in epoxy resin.
The initial anticipated run is 20 items: 7 blue, 7 pink, and 6 green pullers. The features of hand-dyeing, material transparency, and color iridescence give each piece its unique character while maintaining the overall form.
The sums include an estimated value of labor. Design and form are accounted for as one-time expenses, not repeated for each piece.
The preliminary cost to produce a single item ranges from 905–1,055 ₽, depending on the complexity of the shape and the volume of processing. The total launch budget, which includes design development, mold fabrication, sample prototypes, and photography, is approximately 39,200 ₽.
The anticipated retail price is 2,500–2,900 ₽ per item. Reusing the silicone molds will allow for a reduction in batch production costs.
The set of production files has been uploaded to the Temp working folder «BN23D301_Zhivilova_Anastasia».
