“Fighting Anxiety”
Concept | Anxiety is a mental disorder that affects one’s daily life physically and or mentally. As a result one hides oneself from family and friends, closing themselves off from the world. My collection is inspired by my own struggle to escape anxiety and its effects on my health, relationships and mental state. The feeling to hide my true self due to personal insecurities conflicts with my desire to interact with others. The collection features an oversized hood and an extra long turtleneck that covers the eyes and face, making me feel hidden from the world. The black color represents the feeling of being lost and insecure but the red brings out traces of me trying to be bold and interact with society. The choice of materials are rather tough, just like the exterior of one’s personality with anxiety.
Bio | My name is Laura Arieli and am a current student of School of the Art Institute of Chicago, majoring in fashion design. My style mainly focuses on festival design pieces while exploring oneself in a mental and spiritual platform. Previously, I have studied business and general education classes for two years at Oakton Community College which have allowed me to develop a better understanding of marketing myself and interacting with others. To pay for my expenses, I also work as a bartender at Sound-bar, a high volume nightclub in River North.