The inspiration for “The Fireman’s Daughter” collection stems from my life as a young creative growing up in Ohio with a fireman as a dad. I wanted to explore the contrast between the world of fashion versus the world of first responders, as well as the unusual commonalities between the two. The gender divide in firefighting was a major subject that I wanted to touch upon while researching this project, since only about 5% of firefighters nationally are women. This statistic really shocked me but inspired me to deconstruct traditional fire gear and uniforms and create fuller, feminine silhouettes while incorporating utilitarian elements into my designs. A topic that was really important for me to touch upon in my collection was sustainability, and I wanted to incorporate that through my use of natural fibers in my fabric choices. Ethical production is also something I am very passionate about when it comes to design, and it was important to me that if my garments were to be produced, they would be made in a facility that is clean, safe, and has workers who are making a very livable wage. Overall, “The Fireman’s Daughter” collection is not only a unique exploration of deconstructing traditionally masculine silhouettes, but also a very meaningful project to me, helping me connect with my father and gain a new perspective on his life and his line of work.