Chores ᐧ 23 These old soles

The pan in the sink had started growing
soft silk spores in those toothpaste tones — and so
to escape my shame I crawled out of bed,
greeting the gold wet leaves on the ground with
these old soles
that still somehow carried me. They took me
north to where the wind whipped coldest against
the rocks beneath the pier so I could feel
nothing still. I had carved this time and place
out for myself; but I couldn’t find her.

Poem by Shaina Yang

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23 These old soles features a careful composition on the front of the coat paired with both a plain back and a neat, single-fabric lining. This contrast grounds the coat in elegant simplicity, while simultaneously featuring a bold declaration of the coat’s name right at the front of the jacket for all to see — complemented by the beadwork and embroidery with beautiful intentionality.

Garment measures 46" cross chest (side seam to side seam), 26" body length (high point shoulder to hem). Made from a vintage chore coat (cotton synthetic blend), cotton embroidery floss, glass beads, and lining reconstructed from antique indigo-dyed cotton fabric scraps. Please dry clean or hand wash cold with mild detergent and line dry, warm iron on reverse with a little steam.

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Chores  ᐧ  Collection 2  ᐧ  Season 1 (2023, No. 19-28)

Made in collaboration with architect and poet Shaina Yang
and patternmaker Lorraine Lum

This season contains ten embroidered vintage chore coats with reconstructed linings, patchworked from antique indigo-dyed fabric scraps.

Each coat was embroidered in tandem with a corresponding poem written from a memory of the seaside — the seaside providing a consistent backdrop across shifting eras and emotions. Together, they recollect the ways in which our surroundings can witness, support, or even force changes happening on the inside.

Collection photography by Echo Yun Chen
Modeling by Terumi Murao

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*Choose what you pay

Tier 1 - $680
Covers materials and labor for creating one piece

Tier 2 - $880
Helps sustain my practice by paying for work that happens beyond garment construction alone

Tier 3 - $1080
Contributes to the growth of my practice, allowing me to invest in tools, people, experimentation, and future projects + comes with a bonus item

Payment plans available

Please note: If any one pricing tier is marked as "sold out," the item is no longer available. This is due to a quirk in the website's inventory management system that Joy has yet to find a good solution for. Thank you for understanding!