Fashion Brand Creates One-of-a-Kind Slate-Tiled Jacket Combining Material Innovation and Wearable Art

Vollebak and material technologist Steven Leprizé collaborated to produce an experimental jacket constructed from approximately 54,000 thin slate tiles bonded to neoprene backing. The project adapted Leprizé's WooWood elastic marquetry technique originally developed for wood into a slate version, requiring a custom cutting machine to process the delicate material. The finished $50,000 cropped Harrington jacket features taped seams, functional pockets, and a zipper despite its sculptural appearance.

Vollebak has established itself as a fashion label willing to push material boundaries in unexpected directions. The brand's portfolio includes jackets made from advanced synthetic fibers like Dyneema—traditionally used in maritime applications—as well as metal-incorporated blazers. The Rock Jacket represents the culmination of this experimental approach, building on the success of their earlier Wooden Jacket prototype that featured quarter-million laser-cut pieces. This progression suggests the label views extreme material challenges as both creative exercises and proof-of-concept for future production garments.

Steven Leprizé's contribution extends beyond adapting existing techniques. His custom 11.5-foot cutting machine represents specialized engineering developed specifically to handle slate's brittle properties without waste. The adhesive bonding process involved collaboration with 3M engineers in Switzerland, demonstrating how luxury fashion projects may leverage industrial partnerships. Leprizé's broader development pipeline—including planned versions in granite, marble, and sandstone—indicates the WooWood methodology has established genuine technical foundations rather than serving as a one-time novelty.