Chores ᐧ 08 The Water

$580.00

08 The Water

Words by Shaina Yang

When I was a girl I feared
the water
warm and mysterious from the bathroom tap.
I would imagine it travelling through dark secret miles
of rusting pipe cold underground
and unseen spaces between the drywall
as I watched it churn into the green plastic basin
I filled every night to wash my feet.
I don’t remember when the ritual became about my secret
where I would fill the basin sitting tilted in our small sink
set it down on the cool tile, water heavy, sloshing
and then gaze at it from my perch
on the edge of the tub
waiting
till I could pour it away, noisily
down the toilet for my parents ears
feet still safe and dry


Chores is a collection of eighteen hand-embroidered vintage chore coats, celebrating the beauty of earnest labor. Each piece is a vintage garment transformed through a unique pattern of hand-embroidery, inspired by the unintentional yet beautiful splatters left on an old painting smock.

Because they are vintage pieces, each coat is slightly different in size, fabric, and condition.

08 The Water measures:

Cross Chest 21.5" (43" Bust)
Body Length 26.5"
Sleeve Length 23.25"

The fabric is a mid to heavyweight cotton twill with dark blue stitching, structured and durable. It is in great condition, with no noticeable wear and tear. The fabric of the garment also has a unique feature—a single white warp thread—deliberately cut to run vertically on each panel (front, back, pockets, sleeves). The embroidery complements this fabric detail.

Please hand wash cold with mild detergent, and line dry. Warm iron on reverse with a little steam.

Joy's brother Justin (in photos) is 5'5" tall and measures:

Cross Chest 17" (34" Bust)
Body Length 25.5"
Sleeve Length 22" 

*Choose what you pay:

$380 - Covers materials and labor for creating this piece

$480 - Helps sustain my practice by paying for work that happens beyond garment construction alone

$580 - Contributes to the growth of my practice, allowing me to invest in tools, people, and future projects + comes with a surprise bonus item

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!

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