PAINTED JEANS

In the early Spring, I joined the I WILL movement at Utah State University. The goal of this movement was to educate students and faculty about the realities of sexual assault, and create a community that would stand up for those who may be attacked, have been attacked, or feel unsafe on campus. This was such a powerful movement to me that I had to be involved.

A big part of the fuel for this campaign came from a depth requirement class that I was required to take. The message all semester was “My Dress Doesn’t Mean Yes”. Those are powerful words in a society that often blames victims, and shames those who are unable to defend themselves. It was exciting to be a part of this strong movement.

In attempt to be as helpful as possible, I made flyers, passed out ribbons during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and felt inspired to let the message spread like wildfire as I heard more stories from people who had been personally affected. I participated in one particular activity that really stuck out to me. Students were asked to create a piece of clothing that would share the message. I got to work right away, and it ended up being my favorite activity of the semester.

I wanted to put my creativity to use, so I decided to take a different approach than the other students in my class. Instead of writing on a plain white t-shirt, I decided that I wanted to paint a pair of jeans with a symbolic mixture of flowers. Back in the Victorian Era, girls used to follow the language of flowers. Boys would bring them flowers, and after their dates, the girls would hurry home to find out what message was being sent with certain symbolic flowers. I first learned about the Language of flowers when I read a book that was written by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, and I truly loved it. It was as whimsical as all my favorite novels, and left me feeling inspired to put more meaning into my floral arrangements.

When I started, I knew that these jeans were something I would want to keep and possibly wear. I went thrift shopping for some light wash jeans that I wouldn’t mind getting paint on. From there, it was all about deciding what flowers would be meaningful enough to incorporate in my project. I decided to use my flowers in a way that relates to victims of intimate assault.

Pink roses were perfect because they mean grace and joy. Both of those things are something the survivors deserve to have. More often, they are taken from them in the most unjustifiable way following their trauma. I also chose to incorporate the deep crimson red because crimson roses are the flower of mourning. It is a deep color just as the grief felt is very deep. Lastly, I chose lavender and white heather because they stand for protection and solitude. Both of these are topics very much related to the topic of intimate assault when we talk about helping victims, and preventing future victimization.

I love that art speaks. It is loud, unapologetic, and it is beautiful. In cases like this one, art can also be deep and meaningful to many people. Everything in the world around us carries its own message. It is important to me that the messages I share are with good intentions. What people wear is a form of art and self-expression, whether we appreciate their taste or not. A wardrobe choice will never give another person the right to treat somebody poorly. I am grateful to have been a part of the I WILL campaign. Without a doubt, I will continue to be for the rest of my life. I know this because I will always stand up for those in need of comfort, safety, and support.

xx, Haley