Armored Femininity, IN PROGRESS
Woven & Knit Textile Analyses, Digital Simulations, & Personal Weavings and Knits
2025-2027
Armored Femininity explores the intersection of fragility and fortification inherent in feminine experience, examining how vulnerability and protection coexist in the pursuit of authentic self-expression. Through custom textiles integrating metal wire into woven and knitted structures, this collection materializes the paradox of adornment: garments that simultaneously enhance and constrain, empower and restrict, reveal and conceal. Drawing inspiration from previous personal artworks and literary narratives of marginalized femininity and the physical realities of beauty standards, these textile developments embody the emotional and physical labor of presentation. They capture the compression of shapewear, the sharp edges of societal expectations, the weight of conforming to idealized standards, and the delicate balance between self-expression and acceptance.
The technical approach combines traditional textile techniques with unconventional materials, weaving and knitting metal wire directly into soft fabrics to create pieces that are visually striking yet conceptually complex for the Couture Market. This material contradiction speaks to the broader experience of navigating femininity in contemporary culture: the simultaneous demand for softness and strength, beauty and resilience. The target market encompasses high-concept fashion brands and designers interested in conceptual textiles that challenge conventional notions of comfort and wearability, particularly those creating collections addressing themes of identity, body politics, and empowerment. These textiles are intended for statement pieces and collections that explore the complex relationship between clothing, protection, and self-presentation.
Woven & Knit Textile Analyses, Digital Simulations, & Personal Weavings and Knits
2025-2027
Armored Femininity explores the intersection of fragility and fortification inherent in feminine experience, examining how vulnerability and protection coexist in the pursuit of authentic self-expression. Through custom textiles integrating metal wire into woven and knitted structures, this collection materializes the paradox of adornment: garments that simultaneously enhance and constrain, empower and restrict, reveal and conceal. Drawing inspiration from previous personal artworks and literary narratives of marginalized femininity and the physical realities of beauty standards, these textile developments embody the emotional and physical labor of presentation. They capture the compression of shapewear, the sharp edges of societal expectations, the weight of conforming to idealized standards, and the delicate balance between self-expression and acceptance.
The technical approach combines traditional textile techniques with unconventional materials, weaving and knitting metal wire directly into soft fabrics to create pieces that are visually striking yet conceptually complex for the Couture Market. This material contradiction speaks to the broader experience of navigating femininity in contemporary culture: the simultaneous demand for softness and strength, beauty and resilience. The target market encompasses high-concept fashion brands and designers interested in conceptual textiles that challenge conventional notions of comfort and wearability, particularly those creating collections addressing themes of identity, body politics, and empowerment. These textiles are intended for statement pieces and collections that explore the complex relationship between clothing, protection, and self-presentation.