Between the Folds: The Art that Reveals Me

James Dimech is a multidisciplinary artist and designer from Malta whose work explores the intersection of craftsmanship, sustainability, and sculptural fashion. Trained in Interior Architecture, Dimech transitioned from designing spaces to creating wearable structures—garments and installations that fuse architectural precision with poetic form.

Best known for his innovative use of paper as a primary medium, Dimech constructs complex garments and sculptural pieces using folding techniques that blend origami, pleating, and hand-sculpting. His practice also includes sustainable textiles, such as polyester fiber made from post-consumer plastic bottles, allowing him to apply similar manipulation methods across different materials. Whether working with paper or eco-conscious fabrics, his pieces reflect structural integrity, conceptual depth, and refined craftsmanship.

Dimech’s artistic journey has garnered national and international recognition. In 2024, he received the BIG SEE Fashion Design Award for his architectural paper collection Paper Crazy 22 and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lucca Biennale Cartasia—the world’s largest paper art festival—for his fantasy-inspired collection Dress Code at the Mad Hatter. He was also selected to exhibit at Paper on Skin in Tasmania and won the ‘Crossroads of Cultures’ award for his Elizabeth collection at Rome Fashion Week.

Most recently, he was awarded the prestigious Maker of the Year and the Artisan Product Award at the Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti (Artisans Award), organised by the Malta Crafts Foundation. These accolades recognized his contributions to the local artisan sector and his innovative use of non-precious materials in contemporary craftsmanship. His award-winning creations were featured in a curated exhibition at the Parliament Building in Valletta, further cementing his role as a leading figure in Maltese artisanal design.

Through his work, Dimech continues to challenge traditional boundaries between fashion, sculpture, and environmental consciousness. Each creation is both a visual statement and a tactile narrative, meticulously constructed to reflect resilience, transformation, and the enduring power of handmade art.