70 Pounds

70 Pounds, 2016. Found denim, muslin, and thread coat, 74 x 44 in.

I was born in Manila, Philippines, and migrated to the United States as a political refugee. Presently, my art practice focuses on alternative fashion systems with an emphasis on sustainability, bringing forth a cohesive representation of immigrant cultural identity and socio-economic status. 70 Pounds, a coat and art piece created from 70 pounds of found materials, responds to a report by the Council for Textile Recycling, that the United States generates on average 25 billion pounds of textiles per year. 85 percent goes to our landfills, equivalent to 70 pounds per person, adding up to 21 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste per year.