Love Letter - Avery Zhang - MFA Fashion Design and the Arts '25

When an object, such as a chain, is placed on the body, it restricts one’s physical movements. Metaphorically, people can be restrained both physically and emotionally by the "chains" imposed by others. However, are we always averse to the sensation of being controlled? Is it possible that some of us appear to be suffering, yet secretly relish the benefits gained from being restrained by others? These types of restrictions can manifest as intimate relationships, protection, love, and more. Thus, I propose that what seems to constrain a person can also bring benefits, and the "victims" in these relationships can, in fact, be the beneficiaries. For this project, I aim to explore the relationship between skin and accessories. When we place an object or constraint on our body, it invariably leaves marks. I have attempted to capture these marks on different types of “skin”—both human and animal. We could consider the objects to be permanent accessories, while the marks they leave can be seen as temporary accessories. This raises the question: what is the true accessory—the object or the skin? I want to blur the boundary between skin and accessory and merge these concepts together. The accessory I created using a 3D printing technique has a seemingly “harmful” appearance and restricts the movements of the wearer. However, it is not harmful at all. In fact, it contains a one-line love letter shaped similarly to its outer appearance. Although this detail is not visible from the out