Cute is DEAD

• Project Video

• Project Description

Infantilization, cuteness… When women are defined and bound by these labels, they are frequently weakened and objectified, as if they are naturally meant to be protected. But cuteness itself is not a fault. Every person has the right to be cute. The difference is whether her cuteness is subjected to the gaze. This wearable attempts to interpret cuteness from two perspectives. When cuteness is detached from female subjectivity, when it becomes something to be gazed at, we begin to see the many constraints imposed upon her. Her arms are not free, her movements are restricted, her neck iswrapped, and she is trapped in countless definitions. But what follows is an even more intense resistance of women. When she clenches her fists, the lights grow more intense, and the fluttering skirt signals her dissatisfaction and struggle. 

The cuteness shaped by the gaze is dead. The cuteness chosen by women and serve themselves is reborn. 

• Conclusions

I think the most difficult part of the entire project was figuring out how to integrate all the components (the fabric, lighting, 3D printing, and the TPU mechanisms) harmoniously. Since this dress was entirely hand-sewn, I had to think very carefully about how to arrange each part so that the structure would hold together instead of falling apart. One of my favorite decisions in the end was adding the pink tulle. During the process, the original dress only had white elements, which felt too monotonous and it was unable to highlight the interactive part. Later, I decided to layer pink tulle around the TPU components. This not only allowed the mechanism to blend more naturally into the dress, but also made its movement more visible. Throughout the project, I was very pleased and proud of completing each step. For example, successfully building the mechanism and preventing the strings from tangling (special thanks to Marcela for providing the turntable), successfully 3D-printing directly onto fabric, and completing the construction of the dress itself. Each of these was a completely new experience and achievement for me.

Overall, the final result of the project is quite close to what I originally imagined. I managed to incorporate all the elements I had planned during the prototype, and I also developed new inspirations along the way. However, if I had more time, I would like to add new elements to more clearly suggest female subjectivity and women’s resistance, which I feel are not yet fully expressed. I would also add more TPU components. Their movement effect is excellent, which is precisely why I chose to work with TPU in the first place. The material allows it to be effectively driven by fishwire, making the entire skirt appear as if it is breathing.

The overall learning throughout this semester taught me a lot. I think what I learned the most from were 3D printing and mechanism design. Combining fashion, concept, and technology, and using technology as an extension of the body to communicate ideas felt really amazing to me. Being able to create something that can actually be worn and used feels like a huge step forward. In the past, I often focused only on making things, and the final results didn’t always work well in real life. This project pushed me to make a complete, wearable piece. I was constantly learning, thinking, and experimenting throughout the process, and it was a really meaningful experience for me.

• Process Documentation