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Sketched from fabric, this work provides a look inside a clothing factory where children are forced to spend long, grueling hours in sweatshops and paid unlivable wages. I sewed each of the young girls out of fabric to emphasize that they’re only valued for the products they make. I showed them close together to emphasize the horrible, often cramped and unsafe working conditions. I have sewn for as long as I can remember, but I have always done it for my own pleasure or to fulfill my own needs. Children in sweatshops are forced into these terrible conditions by circumstance and sew to support themselves and their families. I recognize my own privilege, and I wanted to use my skills to create art that highlights the tragedy of child labor. As someone fortunate to not be forced into these conditions, I feel it is my duty to spread awareness of this issue.
