Twenty-year-old Urtė Kavaliauskaitė from the Vilnius Academy of Arts dedicates her project Armor of Her Own to the role of women in contemporary society. Her design is both an armor and a manifesto — a symbol of strength, vulnerability, and the relentless fight for equality.
“I wanted to create a dress that feels like armor. Not to hide behind, but to stand one’s ground,” says Urtė Kavaliauskaitė.
She draws inspiration from history, art, and feminist movements. The power and elegance of Queen Elizabeth I, the rebellion of the Riot Grrrl era, and the grotesque body art of Freya Jobbins merge into a multifaceted narrative about female identity and self-determination.
The dress is constructed like a contemporary armor, tight-fitting and almost constricting, making the social pressure placed on women visible. At the same time, wing-like shapes unfold that resemble thorns — symbols of self-protection and freedom, but also of the constant balance between adaptation and resistance.
Its color palette reflects society’s fixation on the female body. Skin tones and metallic accents become a commentary on sexualization and objectification, as well as on reclaiming the body as an expression of power and identity.
For its realization, Urtė Kavaliauskaitė combines digital and handcrafted techniques. Using 3D printing, she creates small doll faces that are pressed into heated thermoplastic fabrics — a symbolic representation of the many voices and experiences of women that often go unheard. Structural wire gives the wings movement and stability, while the fabric is manually shaped and sewn to form a harmonious blend of precision and organic design.
Armor of Her Own is a quiet yet powerful statement of self-determination, showing fashion as an expression of resistance, memory, and female strength.
