Artist Statement
This fashion installation is made up of a series of products and displays that challenge common retail industry practices. The garments are produced in a way that offers a more sustainable alternative business model, examining the standard manufacturing procedures that are in place today. All clothing items are made of 100% organic cotton or 100% organic bamboo that is grown and manufactured in the United States. Garments are fabricated locally by workers who are paid fair and living wages under safe and healthy labor conditions. Products are ice dyed using low impact dye powder and a neutralization system that removes and safely disposes of dye waste. This production model reduces the amount of pesticides and chemicals entering the environment, diminishes international shipping pollution, and ethically employs all workers involved. While the products explore what takes place behind the scenes in manufacturing, the displays address the customer experience inside retail spaces. In contrast to traditional forms of product presentation in stores, I create an installation of product displays that forms an immersive experience. Viewers must move through the space in order to understand and appreciate each piece. A motif of weightlessness is observed throughout the installation. Balance, gravity, and the tension created through each display’s attempt to defy the natural laws make the displays as enticing and intriguing as the products they hold. I am interested in the idea of blurring the lines between retail stores and art galleries. As visitors move throughout the space, I encourage individuals to contemplate their global impact as a consumer of the products and brands that one supports with their purchases.
