Scarlet Thread traces the line of human fragility, the threads don’t just hold the piece together, it follows the experiences, the flaws, the pain, and the scars of the wearer.
I wanted to design a garment that reimagined that “armor” and transform it to a record of survival rather than a shield to hide behind. The Scarlet Thread is a denim jacket meant to imitate this “armored look” with red threading to show the idea of suturing the wounds together. The red meshing on the shoulders is symbolism of the weight of the world and the scars you leave behind. When you unzip the shoulders, your scars are revealed. The reason why the wearer can unzip or zip the “scars” is because insecurities itself is a flaw in humans, the idea of a zipped shoulder shows the piece in a different light, which reinforces Cunningham’s statement. I’m providing the wearer with a choice.
The denim jacket is constructed using thick denim as it's exterior to have a heavy, structured silhouette that acts like the shell. It’s then washed for a softer, more lived in feel, while also giving it a more complex texture. There's also lining in the interior, so it feels warmer and prevents any harsh rubbing against the skin. Instead of using threads that blend in with the garment, I used red stitching as a way to show and highlight the points of the construction.