Made in America | 2023

Just because something is made in America, does not equate to it being made ethically. Specifically in Los Angeles, many garment workers are undocumented and work in sweat shops. I too have received a pay check where I was paid by piece, not hour. I remember while working in assembly fashion, I was tasked to sew labels and straps onto the incoming garments. I was paid one cent for every label and three cents for every strap. Simultaneously, at the time, many consumers who purchased apparel from a specific fast fashion company were discovering notes that read “Help me”, and “Do not buy from this company”, due to the garment workers being neglected and abused in modern day slavery. My work, “Made in America”, pays tribute and provides commentary towards the commodification of immigrant labor for American society. The piece is composed of found terry cloth rags which I sewn garment worker messages in five different languages, being the countries that America relies on the most for garment manufacturing. The rags are connected to a black chain and held by a handmade wood base which is stained with Japanese ink.