For my upcycle project I am taking inspiration from this leather helmet I found last December at an art market. It was being sold by a local leather artisan. I unfortunately lost his business card, so I can’t cite him accurately, but I did take this picture.
The aesthetic is “Medieval Fantasy” along the lines of Lord of the Rings, Dungeons and Dragons, or the countless other properties that incorporate knights and swords and dragons and the like.
My plan is to recreate a similar helmet out of old cardboard instead of leather, and possibly use zipties instead of metal rivets.
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Hey Adam,
This sounds like such a cool project! I love how you’re taking inspiration from a handcrafted leather piece and reinterpreting it with upcycled materials like cardboard and zip ties. It’s a great example of how creative constraints can lead to really interesting design solutions.
The Medieval Fantasy aesthetic is a perfect choice for this type of project. The use of cardboard actually reminds me of how props and costumes are sometimes made for cosplay or theater productions. It’s lightweight, easy to manipulate, and can still achieve that rugged, battle-worn look with the right techniques. Have you thought about how you’ll shape the cardboard to mimic the curves and structure of a real helmet? Layering and scoring could help give it more depth and durability.
Also, for the finishing touches, are you planning to paint or texture the cardboard to resemble metal or aged leather? A weathered paint job, maybe with some dry brushing, could really bring out the medieval feel and make it look like something straight out of Lord of the Rings!
Looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Keep us posted on your progress!
Best,
Andrew