Lucas Desimone: The Photographer Turning Paragliders into Fashion

What happens to a paraglider when its flying days are over? For photographer Lucas Desimone, the answer lies in transformation. The Buenos Aires-based artist doesn't just capture images; he creates them from the ground up, or rather, from the sky down.

He takes discarded paragliders and turns them into striking fashion pieces. This isn't just recycling; it's a creative process that reimagines the potential of materials designed for the extreme.

His work bridges the gap between aviation and apparel, creating a unique niche in the fashion world that values both sustainability and bold aesthetics.

The idea for this unique venture surfaced roughly 15 years ago. After returning from New York, a friend shared an intriguing observation about bags made from truck tarpaulins in Switzerland. The initial concept was simple: "What if we tried that?"

However, logistics presented a significant hurdle. Sourcing materials from Switzerland was impractical. They needed a local solution. Research into the Argentine trucking industry revealed that local operators used their tarps until they were completely worn out, leaving nothing to salvage.

This obstacle sparked a new direction. The team turned their attention to the massive vinyl sheets used for roadside advertising billboards. What began as a playful experiment—producing around 20 bags per month—quickly evolved into a serious creative pursuit.

• Initial inspiration: Swiss truck tarpaulins
• Local challenge: Argentine tarps were used until destruction
• New material source: Roadside advertising vinyl
• Production start: Small batches of 20 bags monthly

The early creations were undeniably beautiful, but they faced a critical flaw. The vinyl, engineered to withstand hurricane-force winds, was not designed for the friction of daily use. Over time, the material began to degrade and fall apart.

Despite the aesthetic appeal, the practical reality was harsh. Customers began reporting that their bags were disintegrating. In response, the team made a decisive choice: they refunded every customer who reached out.

This period became a crucial learning experience. It taught them that a material's strength is context-dependent. A material that performs perfectly in one environment may fail completely in another. This insight shifted their focus toward materials better suited for wearable art.

"The material works in its context."

Following this realization, Desimone began exploring paraglider fabric. Unlike the billboard vinyl, this material offered a unique combination of lightness, durability, and history. Each piece carried the story of its previous life in the sky.

As a photographer, Lucas Desimone has a unique perspective on his craft. He describes his fashion work as a reversal of the photographic process. Instead of capturing three-dimensional reality on a two-dimensional surface, he does the opposite.

He takes the flat plane of the fabric and constructs a three-dimensional object. It is a sculptural process, guided by an eye for composition and light.

"It is similar to composing a photo but in reverse: instead of taking three dimensions to paper, I transform the flat plane of fabric into an object."

Today, his work has expanded beyond bags. He now creates a range of items including:

• Stylish jackets with unique paneling
• Comfortable t-shirts
• Functional backpacks
• One-of-a-kind accessories

Each item retains traces of its past life, with seams and shapes that echo the original structure of the paraglider. The result is a collection that feels both technical and organic.

Desimone's sustainable approach has not gone unnoticed. His designs have garnered attention on international stages, leading to invitations to prestigious fairs in cities like Berlin and Tokyo.

These events provided a platform to showcase the intersection of upcycling and high fashion. The unique narrative behind each piece—its origin, its transformation—resonates with a global audience increasingly concerned with environmental impact.

While the initial billboard project faced technical hurdles, the pivot to paragliders has proven successful. The material is inherently more suited to wear and tear, while the visual appeal remains just as strong.

From a casual conversation about Swiss bags to a recognized brand in the sustainable fashion scene, Lucas Desimone's journey highlights the power of adaptation and the endless possibilities hidden in discarded materials.

Lucas Desimone's work stands as a testament to creative problem-solving. By viewing waste not as an endpoint but as a raw material, he has carved out a distinct space in the fashion industry.

His story began with a simple question: "What if we tried?" That curiosity led him from the billboards of Argentina to the skies above, and finally to the racks of international fashion shows.

As the demand for sustainable and unique products grows, Desimone's approach offers a blueprint for the future of design. It proves that the most innovative ideas often come from looking at the world through a different lens—or in this case, through the fabric of a retired paraglider.