From Cultural Symbol to Fashion Narrative: A Semiotic Framework for Translating the Slavic ‘Tree of Life’ Archetype into Contemporary Fashion Design

Abstract

This article examines the methodology for transposing traditional cultural symbols into contemporary fashion design, through the case of the Slavic Tree of Life archetype. It addresses the semiotics of the mythological code and proposes a three-level model for its deconstruction. The article responds to the need for a more conscious engagement with ethnocultural heritage, taking the Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2022–2023 collection as a case study that shows how the proposed framework can be applied to contemporary fashion design without direct stylization.