Irene Travieso, BoundByThread. Mixed media. 18 x 24 inches. Florida International University,
USA, 2026
USA, 2026
Project Statement
When thinking about women’s history and what it has meant to be a woman, one common aspect we all share is our history of clothing. Clothing has always been a fascinating subject because, throughout the years, fashion has developed not only to fit a certain culture, but also a region, climate, and the temperament of the wearer.
I wanted to capture the essence of what makes women unique through clothing, but I did not want to take the generic route of focusing only on dresses or makeup. Many people already know and understand that women, while often feeling suffocated by the pressure to look pretty, can also become empowered and find confidence through the process of self-care and dressing up.
This idea also connected to the unique aspect of this class, where we had the opportunity to interact with other cultures. That experience made me want to learn more. As someone minoring in art history, and as someone who loves learning facts about the rest of the world, I found it a fun challenge to explore how women from different cultures present themselves through articles of clothing.
This led to my final poster, “Bound by Thread,” which shows that no matter how different we may appear through aspects such as clothing, we are still connected and share similar pathways and goals. I believe each article of clothing represents a unique attribute of women found across the globe. At the same time, I believe these attributes are shared by all women, which is why we are all bound to the same thread of “fate.”
I was inspired by the Ouroboros, a symbol of unity, recreation, and destruction in an endless cycle. I have always seen this symbol less negatively than some might interpret it. To me, it is more positive because even when certain aspects of our lives disappear or change, they can still remind us of themselves in a different form. In the same way, even as time passes and cultures change, women can still find value in clothing that empowers them.
The dresses I chose come from a variety of cultures and regions, including Japan, Native American cultures, Inuit communities, Scotland, Latin America, and India. Although these dresses may appear very different from one another, they are all meant to symbolize womanhood and represent important cultural meanings within their respective traditions.
Video of the process. Courtesy of the designer Irene Travieso. Florida International University, USA, 2026