Jihan Azzam’s collection, Vessels, explores the philosophy of reincarnation, drawing from her Druze faith, where the soul passes from one body to another. Like water adapting to the contours of each vessel it inhabits, the soul evolves through time, shaped by environment, memory, and experience. This idea forms the conceptual and structural foundation of the collection, where each garment embodies a stage in the soul’s journey toward balance.

Inspired by Druze attire and its emphasis on modesty and symbolism, the collection incorporates handmade pleating techniques that echo the structured folds of the Mandeel, the Druze veil. Cyanotype printing captures transient imprints, floral motifs, and images of loved ones, serving as visual traces of lives once lived, like memories impressed upon the soul. The repetition and layering of knife pleats and Arashi Shibori mirror the recurring cycles of rebirth, while structured forms with internal boning through pintucks suggest the movement and fluidity of the spirit.

The collection progresses in ascending motion, beginning with concealed silhouettes that evoke the soul’s initial containment, gradually transitioning into freer, more ethereal shapes. Subtle finishing details, hand stitching drawn from traditional garments, the consistent use of blue, and organic draping, reflect a commitment to heritage and a reverence for transformation. In Vessels, tradition and personal memory converge in a meditation on continuity, identity, and the soul’s quiet ascent beyond the material.