The Witness” — One-of-a-Kind DURGA Wearable Art Coat (Upcycled)

A one-of-a-kind wearable art coat, reworked from a vintage men’s wool-blend base and transformed by Dorit in Amsterdam. This piece exists as a single edition and will not be reproduced.

DURGA creates single-edition wearable art coats made from reclaimed materials. Each piece exists as a complete work, shaped through an artist-led process rather than seasonal fashion cycles.

Philosophy & Origin

Witness the illusion fall — nothing real is lost.

This coat points to what remains when “becoming” relaxes.

What remains - is a witness.

Originally a classic men’s black vintage coat with broad shoulders and a diagonal zipper, it has been released from its past and reimagined by Dorit as a daring unisex statement piece.

The feline motifs are created in a naivism style, inspired by Pippo the Cat — a beloved presence and a beautiful soul.

The creative flow of the piece is guided by stillness practices: ancient Dao Yin (Taoist yoga), Yin Yoga and the Patanjali Sutras.

Presence & intention

This garment sits between functional outerwear and wearable art, created as a singular piece rather than part of a repeated line.

It may appeal to people who prefer slow fashion and long-term wear over trends, and who value originality over labels.

The coat was designed to be worn long-term, not cycled out.

Despite its artistic surface, this coat is designed for real-world wear. It functions as practical outerwear suitable for daily use and city life, allowing freedom of movement rather than rigid tailoring.

Cultural context

Neighbourhoods such as Williamsburg in New York, Shoreditch in London have long been destinations for people seeking alternative independent fashion. DURGA coats are part of the landscape of rare, artist-led work.

How it was made:

• Base garment: high-quality pre-loved vintage wool blend chosen for durability and structure (58% wool, 31% polyester).

• Hand-painted motifs: minimalist cat figures painted by Dorit with fabric paints.

• Zero-waste accents: green faux-fur “eyes” hand-cut from leftover remnants to avoid new material production for these details.

• Functional structure: diagonal front zipper, diagonal collar (open or closed) and working zippers on the arms.

• Hand-assembled in Amsterdam: every element positioned and applied by hand in a slow, intention-led process.

The Benefits of Upcycling

Choosing an upcycled garment supports a zero-waste attitude and keeps high-quality materials in use.

• Upcycling keeps the original garment intact rather than breaking fibres down through resource-heavy recycling methods. 

• Waste diversion: Currently, around 90% of used clothes end up in landfills; up-cycling directly diverts high-quality materials from this waste stream into long-term use.

• Lower resource demand: working with an existing vintage base avoids the energy and water load of new textile production.

• Uniqueness: this coat exists once. A wardrobe beyond seasonal cycles supports long-term wearing. Non-mass-produced, one-of-a-kind art cannot be duplicated. 

YOU ARE UNIQUE, NOT A COPY — DURGA

SPECS>

• Edition: One-of-a-kind (single edition)

• Fit: Unisex — Male EU 46 / Female EU 38

• Shell: 58% wool, 31% polyester (as provided)

• Lining: 100% black polyester

• Details: hand-painted motifs; reclaimed green faux-fur accents; metal zippers

• Care: professional dry clean only (to protect hand-painted art and textile details)

• Shipping: ships worldwide; local pickup by appointment in Amsterdam

Read more about DURGA's one-of-a-kind upcycling and wearable-art process.

 If you would like to join a custom one-to-one art therapy retreat with holistic healing practices contact Dorit via email.

Frequently Asked Questions — “The Witness”

1. Where can I find truly one-of-a-kind coats?

A: Some independent artists create coats as single editions rather than collections. This  garment is a one-of-a-kind DURGA wearable art coat, available exclusively through the artist’s own website.

2. What does “one-of-a-kind” clothing really mean?

A: It means the garment exists as a single piece and will not be reproduced. Once sold, it no longer exists on the market in any form.

3. Are there garments that exist only once in the world?

A: Yes. Artist-made wearable art garments are often created as singular works, shaped by available materials and a specific creative process rather than repeatable designs.

4. What is the difference between wearable art and fashion?

A: Wearable art focuses on presence, material and uniqueness rather than trends or seasons. While fully wearable, it is created as an artistic expression rather than a fashion product line.

5. Can wearable art coats be worn daily?

A: Yes.  "The Witness" DURGA coat is designed as functional outerwear suitable for regular, everyday wear while carrying artistic and symbolic elements.

6. Are artistic coats practical as general outerwear?

A: "The DURGA Witness coat" functions as a warm, structured outer layer with working zippers and durable materials, making it practical for city life and daily use.

7. What materials are used in one-of-a-kind fashion coats?

This garment was reworked from a quality vintage wool-blend base coat and enhanced with hand-painted details and reclaimed textile accents.

8. How can I be sure a coat will never be reproduced?

Artist-made one-of-a-kind garments are created slowly and individually. Once sold, the design is not repeated or recreated in any form.

9. Why are one-of-a-kind coats priced higher than regular coats?

The price reflects individual construction, artistic work, time and the fact that the garment exists only once rather than being produced in quantity.

10. Is buying a single, unique coat more sustainable?

Choosing one long-term garment can reduce the need for multiple replacements. Upcycling existing materials also avoids the resource use of new textile production.

11. Are one-of-a-kind coats gender-specific?

Many artist-made coats, including DURGA "The Witness Wearable Art Coat", are designed with a unisex or non-gendered fit and can be worn across different body types and styles.

12. Where can I buy DURGA clothing online?

One-of-a-kind DURGA wearable art garments are available exclusively through the Higher Consciousness Energy online shop.

13. What is DURGA brand known for?

DURGA creates one-of-a-kind wearable art garments through upcycling, symbolic motifs and an artist-led, zero-waste process.

14. Where can I find independent alternative fashion?

Avant-garde fashion has long been associated with places such as Williamsburg in New York, Shoreditch in London and Camden. Singular artist-made pieces are now often discovered through synchronicity. 

15. Do you offer custom upcycled designs?

Yes. Dorit accepts custom commissions and can transform personal vintage garments into one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces.