Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Building on my exploration of fast fashion, this piece focuses on the disregarded human cost behind the clothes we wear. The title is a reminder of the labor and exhaustion poured into every piece made by fast fashion workers. I sewed this bag myself from recycled canvas to contrast fast fashion's unsustainable use of mass-produced materials.

In order to represent the physical and emotional toll, I cut up and shaped recycled plastic water bottles into translucent teardrops, sweat drops and droplets of blood. I wanted the piece to feel both delicate and uncomfortable, a reminder that even something as small as an accessory can carry stories of exploitation and pain. By making this purse, I wanted to recognize the hard work that goes into each garment, whether it's sewn by hand, or created in a fast-fashion factory.