In this epoch of the Anthropocene, how can one face the horrors of ecological destruction brought on by humankind’s massive consumption? Rejecting the homogeneity and instant gratification of fast fashion is one way. To go beyond “reduce, reuse, recycle” and appreciate what already exists: to wear, repair, or pass it down endlessly is to change our foundational relationship to what we own. Sacred Adornment is the act of dressing your body like a holy being, to give reverence to the processes and objects that enhance our physical vessel. To take care of oneself and treat ourselves with care in a fast time is an act of resistance.

This body of work is from my Master’s Thesis, titled Uncovering Shame, Desire and Consumption: The Transmutation of Fast Fashion into Sacred Adornment. It is an overarching fabric made up of sometimes-tangled threads from various fields, including sustainability, spirituality, art history, fashion, material culture, and psychology, as well as my personal practice of creating sacred adornment.

I am so honored to the friends and community who agreed to pose and participate in this endlessly inspiring and humbling project. Each piece they wear is made from objects that would otherwise be discarded. The halos hung behind them are found objects, meant to reframe what is holy and worth holding onto. All poses evoke Renaissance portraiture, which highlighted artisanship and saintly symbolism.

For additional digital and film images, paper sources, or just to generally nerd out about the topic, please email me at: bustleworship@gmail.com