Corsets of Empowerment

This project explores the intersection of fashion and activism, using contemporary design to reflect on significant women’s rights movements from around the world. This exhibition presents four uniquely crafted corsets, each representing a pivotal movement, from the Suffragette era to the ongoing fight for gender equality in Iran. Through modern aesthetics, innovative construction, and symbolic details, this project transforms clothing into a medium for dialogue and advocacy. Fashion becomes more than just design—it becomes a powerful tool for storytelling, sparking awareness, and encouraging new perspectives on gender equality and activism. This project was exhibited at the Robert Hillestad Gallery, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, in April 2025 as part of the M.A. Option II final presentation. It explores the intersection of fashion and activism through a series of concept-driven corsets inspired by global women’s rights movements. Advisor: Sandra Starkey