As a fashion designer and textile artisan, upcycling is what inspires me the most. Taking what has already been created, deconstructing, reconstructing, and manipulating textiles via patchwork, painting and embroidery are just some of the ways I most authentically express myself.

 

In the context of my Italian heritage, my most recent body of work was originally inspired by my great grandfather who was a shoemaker, immigrating from Malito, Italy to the United States in 1920, and my great grandmother, who was a homemaker. I focused on exploring gender roles cross-generationally, with an intention of  “marrying the past to the present.”

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Blending elements of traditionally masculine suits/workwear with feminine kitchenware/sleepwear from the 50’s and 60’s, I hope to ultimately leave the viewer with room for interpretation, and questions to ponder:

 

How have gender roles changed inside and outside of the household over the past century? How do we see society reverting back to gender boxing norms of the past? How have women’s bodies been regulated over time?

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Materiality: quilted pinstripe suiting, quilted cotton gingham, linen sleeves and belt w/ goose feather filling, various scraps for patchwork detail, heart shaped topstitch detail, hand painted pastel prints.