This corset is a statement piece born from the idea of resistance. Built on the structure of 17th-century Dutch stays, it reinterprets a garment once designed for discipline and control. Here, the corset becomes a site of refusal. The back transforms into a stitched canvas carrying the face of Medusa, her rope-like hair spelling a single word: NO. It is both garment and artwork — a rare object that balances historical form, hand embroidery, and contemporary meaning.
Key features
- Constructed in black taffeta with silver metallic taffeta lining
- Size EU 36 (UK 8 / US 4)
- Two-piece design: corset body and detachable front panel
- Front lacing; lightweight plastic boning for structure
- Back embroidered using tambour and padding techniques
- Threads: cotton, metallic, and synthetic
- Created over 3–4 weeks of dedicated handwork
- One of a kind — no replicas will ever exist
Why it is special
Conceived as part of an art project titled The Power of NO, this piece confronts the historical role of stays as tools of restraint and flips their meaning. By moving the lacing to the front, the back became free for embroidery — a space to speak. Medusa, often misread as a monster, reappears here as a figure of defiance. Her twisting hair forms the word NO, recalling both the cords of historical garments and the systems that bind women into silence. Each stitch is placed by hand to build depth and texture that can only be achieved through couture-level embroidery.
Who it is for
For collectors, stylists, and fashion lovers who see garments as more than clothing. This is not fast fashion; it is a one-of-a-kind art garment intended to be displayed, styled for editorials, or worn as a statement. It belongs to someone who values exclusivity, conceptual depth, and uncompromising craft.
