The initial concept for this project was inspired by the way I show myself to the world: Introvert, independent, and personal. This is how most people see me, but for those who are close to me know that this is just the exterior, and myself extends exponentially. I was then presented with a question: do I stay hidden or do I expose myself? I decided that the best way to answer that question was by using the ocean as a metaphor for myself. “There is more to me than just the things you can see. There is depth and opacity; things obscure to the naked eye, yet illuminated with thought, memory, and emotion, gradually rising to unknown heights.”  From here I decided to research deep sea animals and use their shapes to inspire unique silhouettes for my collection. I started out with a fall\winter as my season, but changed to spring\summer because I think my collection fits better. My customer is a young woman, ages 17-25 on a journey of self-discovery; Someone who does not yet know that their role in the world but is steadily emerging into something beautiful and transformative. I used a variety of fabrics with different textures and weights so that I could put an emphasis on layering.