Guardian: Made in Cambodia
Cynden Adams
Bachelor of Design (Hons)

Guardian: Made in Cambodia
Guardian: Made in Cambodia is an ethically produced apparel collection responding to the low-income, hazardous working conditions of Cambodian garment factory workers. The collection raises awareness of the Cambodian guardian spirit Neak Ta, and the associated mass fainting that has been described as a culturally appropriate form of rebellion to worker mistreatment. This collection visualises the repetitive piecework of garment factory work, and the disruption caused to it by the Neak Ta phenomenon. Open and closed seams, darts and hems recall the repetitive qualities of piecework labour, disrupted by dark, ominous natural dyeing techniques reminiscent of fainting and possession.