Juanny Alcaraz is a senior in the Fashion Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Although born in Mexico, her family relocated to the Chicago suburbs at the age of two. Interest in illustration, fashion, and sewing came at an early age while watching her mother work as a seamstress. In the past, her work has been influenced by her heritage, American pop culture, and vintage fashion. Coming from a low-income home, attending a school like SAIC had always felt like a dream which wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for a hiatus in her education to serve in the U.S Air Force. A choice she feels not only provided her with the funding for an education, but shaped her to be a more determined and driven student. Her most recent work is influenced by these obstacles and her journey to reach professional goals.
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UN/BIND, Full line-up. Digital Illustration
UN/BIND Look #1, Photo by Eugene Tang
UN/BIND Look #2, Photo by Eugene Tang
UN/BIND Look #3, Photo by Eugene Tang
UN/BIND Look #4, Photo by Eugene Tang
UN/BIND Look #6, Photo by Eugene Tang
UN/BIND Look #7, Photo by Eugene Tang
UN/BIND Look #8, Photo by Eugene Tang
Restrain, restrict, obstruct, disentangle, untether and liberate are all key words used in the research for my senior thesis. This collection was inspired by personal experiences, obstacles, and the fight to regain control of my own life and future. Visual inspiration came from works of art like installations that used rope and electrical tape or photography, images that brought back memories and instilled feelings I had during difficult times. The collection is an attempt to tell a story. It is composed of structured and edgy garments, offset by a bit of elegance and fluidity. UN/BIND transitions from dark colors, heavier fabrics and form fitting silhouettes to moving away from the body. The introduction of lighter colors and textiles are meant to depict stages from feeling trapped to liberating one’s self, the journey to freedom. Although the concept derives from a personal experience, everyone goes through hard times and is fighting their own battles. My intention for UN/BIND and its progression is not only to reach an audience but bring hope that they too can overcome their own obstacles.