Teresa Song

Letters Lost at Sea is dedicated to unsaid words. I collected messages—regrets, hopes, and gratitudes—and wrote them on the gown. The design evokes the ocean: the white crepe of the mermaid gown resembles letter paper, the blue pleated organza mimics waves, and the golden tulle draws inspiration from when water hits sand. Before the advent of the plane, ships were the primary method for overseas communication. However, it took several months for boats to dock, and shipwrecks swallowed letters. While people in the past faced a literal communication barrier, today, fear and circumstance replace shipwrecks as deterrents. This piece is a second chance for people to send words they could not. This time, the ocean breathes a second life into their words, rather than expunging them.

Teresa Song is a sophomore at The Harker School. A two-time Scholastic Gold Medalist and California Arts Scholar, her work is published in Vagabond City Lit and Door Is A Jar, among others. In her free time, she can be found sneaking into the pantry for snacks, reading, or running.