“Summer Body” N° CO-201

I’m becoming more and more feminist. Maybe because I’m 45, had two children “late,” and my body is no longer what it was at 20… and I’m tired of trying to fit into external injunctions.
This year has been filled with reflections on my convictions, and how I could carry them further and louder.

Beyond subscribing to activist magazines, following social media accounts on the subject and sharing their posts, signing petitions… I looked for ways to integrate this notion into my artistic practice.
The “Boys & Girls” shoulder bag was a first piece addressing the absurdity of “pink for girls, blue for boys,” as well as a major technical challenge to myself.

To go further, I wanted to create a series of bags that spoke about women’s bodies. Some pieces already existed and naturally found their place in this “Femininities” collection. Others are in progress, like this one (which will be part of a triptych—but shhh).

This pattern was obvious to me: for 3 years it reminded me of a bikini without me knowing “what to do with it,” and then it became very clear.
I looked for a leather that resembled human skin—pig leather was the obvious choice. For once, it isn’t upcycled, since I couldn’t find what I needed from my usual sources. The “swimsuit” fabric is an upcycled pareo, and the lagoon-colored lining comes from a sewing workshop closing.
For the breasts, I bought scraps of high-density foam from an upholsterer and sculpted them by hand, patiently. My husband gave his opinion too ;) Finally, I drafted the “swimsuit” directly on the forms.
A demanding but very interesting and rewarding job, with a result worthy of my vision.

It’s beautiful, large, practical—but above all, it doesn’t leave anyone indifferent.

No desire to burn yourself out on a treadmill just to meet the injunctions of the “perfect beach body,” nor to show your body at all?
Want to spark discussions around you on this subject?
This bag is for you.