2024 ShowOff! Artwork Pilar Ordoñez

Dama Antigua

This was an investigation into my mother's life sparked by an image of her (pictured in the top left corner) in a traditional Argentine dress called Dama Antigua, and it evolved into an investigation into my Argentine and Spanish heritage. I was captivated by the dress since I had never seen the style before, and research indicated that this was because Argentine dress today is extremely Westernized. To reconnect with this fashion, I designed, created my own patterns fit to my measurements, and sewed a garment that merged my mother's outfit with a Western silhouette to speak to multiculturalism. It is not just one identity that is being expressed, but a duality. Through the garment, I challenge the viewer to consider the importance of dress in cultural identity and how it is a rapidly changing concept.