THIS PROJECT EXPLORED THEMES OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY, UNFAMILIARITY, AND SOCIAL PERCEPTION, EXAMINING HOW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES CAN BECOME SOURCES OF FEAR OR MISUNDERSTANDING—ESPECIALLY WHEN INDIVIDUALS HAVE LIMITED EXPOSURE TO CULTURES OUTSIDE THEIR OWN.

A CENTRAL QUESTION DRIVING THE PROJECT WAS: WHY DOES THE UNFAMILIAR OFTEN APPEAR FRIGHTENING? THE WORK CONSIDERED HOW EXCLUSION FROM INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE CAN LEAD TO DISCOMFORT OR EVEN FEAR TOWARD WHAT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTOOD. RATHER THAN BEING INHERENT, THIS REACTION IS OFTEN A RESULT OF LIMITED EXPOSURE, SOCIAL CONDITIONING, OR SYSTEMIC LACK OF REPRESENTATION.

THE GARMENT CREATED FOR THIS PROJECT WAS DIRECTLY INSPIRED BY ARTIFACTS FROM THE DAVID COLLECTION (DAVIDS SAMLING) IN COPENHAGEN—A MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART THAT SHOWCASES RICH VISUAL LANGUAGES, SPIRITUAL SYMBOLISM, AND INTRICATE CRAFTSMANSHIP. THESE HISTORICAL PIECES, ORIGINATING FROM ACROSS THE ISLAMIC WORLD, INFORMED BOTH THE AESTHETIC CHOICES AND THE NARRATIVE LAYERS OF THE FINAL DESIGN.

THROUGH THIS DESIGN, THE PROJECT ENCOURAGED VIEWERS TO REFLECT ON HOW DIFFERENCES IN CULTURE, DRESS, AND TRADITION CAN BE SEEN NOT AS DIVISIONS, BUT AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE, APPRECIATION, AND UNDERSTANDING. IT INVITED THE AUDIENCE TO CONSIDER HOW FAMILIARITY TRANSFORMS FEAR INTO CURIOSITY, AND HOW MEANINGFUL CULTURAL EXCHANGE ENRICHES BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES.

ULTIMATELY, THIS WORK ADVOCATED FOR CURIOSITY, OPENNESS, AND CULTURAL AWARENESS IN BOTH FASHION AND SOCIETY—DEMONSTRATING THAT ENGAGING WITH THE UNFAMILIAR CAN LEAD TO DEEPER CONNECTION AND MUTUAL RESPECT.