A haunting reflection of a post-pandemic world, RUSTED is a visceral exploration of emotional stagnation, self-destruction, and the quiet resilience buried beneath the corrosion.
Inspired by rust, the natural decay of metal that paradoxically results from its own existence, this collection serves as a metaphor for the human condition. Just as metal slowly destroys itself until it's cleaned and reborn into brilliance, we too often allow our minds, emotions, and bodies to deteriorate silently under the weight of fear, depression, and apathy.
The designs embody this internal corrosion, fabrics draped like oxidation eating away at skin, textures that mimic peeling layers of identity, and silhouettes that feel both heavy and hollow. In many pieces, patches of bare transparency fight to remain visible, symbolizing the untouched parts of ourselves still resisting complete erosion.
This collection was born from a deeply personal place. After the pandemic, I found myself submerged in a state of emotional rust, letting life slip by, numbing out, adapting to darkness. I became comfortable in the decay. But I remembered: metal shines again once you clean it. And so can we.
RUSTED is a reminder that although we may fall into self-destruction, we also possess the power to restore ourselves. We are not our rust. We are the shine beneath it.
To those who are still there, feeling heavy, feeling hopeless, this is for you.
You are not alone. And just like the metal, you can shine too.