Each flower on the coat is made up of five individual petals and 12 beads, all sewn by hand. The whole process was completed over several months.
Each petal on the jacket was cut out by hand, one at a time.
Queen Esther
Queen Esther was the first woman I was inspired by in this collection. The flower I chose to symbolize her life and traits was the myrtle blossom. Myrtle, in the language of flowers, means fidelity, prosperity, and truth. The fuchsia color in her robes is drawn from both the color of certain myrtle blossoms and the shade of Murrex snail “purple” that was historically worn by royalty. The scale-quilted dress is inspired by armor and symbolizes the protection of God.
Myrtle Flowers
A page from my sketchbook. Early stages of design and planning for Queen Esther’s dress.
Why I chose her
One might argue that the most beautiful member of a king’s harem is an odd choice for a feminist collection. I beg to differ. Despite being “brought” to the king of Persia and “groomed” to his liking under dubious circumstances, Esther become queen and used her position to bravely save her people from genocide. I view her as a symbol of women’s perseverance, integrity and bravery.