The Illusion of Progress is about quite literally the illusion of progress that has been created in America regarding systemic racism from the 1950s fight for social justice into the same fight today. Through my lineup I show where the nation was in terms of slavery, where the nation is with police brutality and I finish with my hope for where the nation is headed. I implement hidden embroideries in all of my pieces that some notice at first but most look past. I have several things embroidered into my garments from actual images of slaves, text from the Declaration of Independence, faces of victims to protest slogans. In look 3 I have the names of victims of racially controversial conflicts who have passed embroidered into the bullet proof vest. While in look 2 I drew each of those victims and used my drawings to create a pattern for a denim textile. Each embroidery and detail has strength on its own yet they are all hidden and blend into the garment seamlessly on purpose to help create the illusion. What happens with my clothes is at first people see it and appreciate it. Then they get close to it and realize it's depth. It is in that moment where they become silent and a choice is made. They ask themselves do I speak up and have a conversation with someone or do I walk away in silence? Creating those moments of discomfort is the goal of my collection. If we do not talk through hard times there is no way we can grow. We have to work through that silence. We live in a political climate where to be silent is to be complicit, as an artist I use my voice to evoke emotion and spark conversation through my work.
