Anne Hou

Protection is a fundamental human instinct, offering comfort in the face of uncertainty. My graduate collection, Fasten Me Tighter, Bury Me Deeper, explores the relationship between protection, confinement, and personal identity through experimental fashion design. I am interested in how the desire for safety can become restrictive, questioning how much freedom and individuality one would sacrifice in the pursuit of security.

Drawing inspiration from the 1955 Experimental High Altitude Pressure Suit, I explored the visual language of protective clothing, most significantly its exaggerated proportions and industrial details. These references informed my approach to designing garments that both protect and subtly distort the body.

Throughout the project, I experimented with pattern making, pleating, faux leather and metal components to develop architectural silhouettes with dramatic proportions. Contrasting oversized shapes with closer-fitting sections allowed me to explore the relationship between the garment and the body. Texture and material were also important in creating visual variety and reinforcing the industrial qualities of the collection.

Fasten Me Tighter, Bury Me Deeper examines the contradiction between seeking protection and becoming restricted by it. Fashion provides an outlet for expressing these thoughts through physical forms rather than words alone. Rather than presenting a fixed interpretation, I want my work to encourage viewers to reflect on their own experiences and consider the balance between security, independence, and self-expression.