My collection "No Space to Breathe" delves into the oppressive weight of societal pressures through the symbolism of the corset, evoking feelings of constraint and suffocation. By exploring these themes, my thesis collection seeks to raise awareness about the challenges individuals face and stimulate discussions on coping strategies and resilience-building techniques.
In the collection “The Living Standard," Zoe Wenger satirizes how women’s bodies have been molded throughout fashion history and points out the paradox in which the definition of beauty constantly rewrites itself and forces the “living standard” to adapt.
“The Art of Making Do explores the history and beauty of fashion & craftsmanship within the south and the dichotomy between the relationship of the two. The collection through craftsmanship, silhouette, and fabric shows the beauty, creativity, and history while challenging the presumption of lack of luxury within the rural south.”
Amelia Thomas’ luxury evening wear collection, “Perception”, examines the relationship of perfectionism within fashion; taking inspiration from dance movement. A dichotomy of chaos and control is expressed within the materials. Amelia utilizes a sustainable, non-toxic thermoplastic. She hand molded and painted a thermoplastic corset bodice. This juxtaposition is also expressed through pleats, seamlines, and movement of fabrics. Enjoy.
Double Conscious is a fashion collection that explores the concept of dual identity in Black Americans through an Afro-surrealist lens. The term Double consciousness was coined by W.E.B DuBios to describe the “peculiar sensation” Black Americans endure within a eurocentric society. This collection articulates these ideas through use of color, contrasting textures, and Afro-surrealist inspired motifs.
Reverence is a sartorial study on the experience of growing up as a minority. As a Korean-American, highlighting all aspects of my reality is important– racism, microaggressions, fetishization, etc. I created a juxtaposition through silhouettes between my personal style within my home country (U.S.) and traditional aspects from my Korean culture.
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