“The theme of my work is inspired by the need for personal safety in public spaces especially with the uptake of violence in Toronto public transit. My designs explore methods of protecting the human body for everyday wear. Drawing inspiration from convergent evolution, I incorporated elements inspired by various crustacean forms.In Canada, carrying items specifically for self-defense purposes is illegal, as any item intended to cause harm is prohibited. However, using objects for alternative purposes can be justified as it can be argued that the intent was never to harm, an example being hairpins. Therefore, I made my pieces to primarily be fashion accessories that also offer the potential for protection.”