Caim (Gaelic key-em: meaning Sanctuary)

Power and protection go hand in hand. The rich are the powerful, the powerful are protected, and the protected are confident. Men are historically shown to be these attributes, but what about the women? Gender binaries, beauty standards, body standards, and societal expectations dictate who is allowed to do and wear specific items and therefore who is seen as powerful, confident, and protected.

This piece explores the intersection of fashion, jewelry, and sculpture. As an armored sanctuary for inner peace, this work is built to make the female wearer feel confident, powerful, and protected from the inside out. Caim is a chainmail wearable sculpture designed around a female form and subtly contorting the wearer’s body into a confident pose (shoulders back, chest out). Priyanka made this work as part of the Metals class, and it was showcased in Haute Glue, a wearable performance show. Priyanka plays with the contrast of power and delicacy through the use of chainmail, scalemail, and chains. With references to a lotus flower and a black widow’s web, Caim connects the history of human power back to nature. This piece is the first of a series of sculptures exploring fragmentation, perception, alienation, power, and self esteem.

This project was made possible with support from the Frank-Ratchye Further Fund Microgrant #2025-044. Additional images found here.

Credits: Deeptika Mandha as model for Haute Glue