These socks are inspired by a pair of fabric slippers in Ishiuchi Miyako’s photography collection, ひろしま hiroshima. Double knitting creates a two-layer sock that replicates the two layers of fabric used in the originals.

In the title of her collection, Ishiuchi uses a special kind of writing, called Hiragana, that was solely used by women in times past. She says, “Using this way of Japanese writings for the title means to the artist that this series is made by the point of view and feelings of a woman.” I’ve used standard Kanji characters to write Peace on my socks. The knitting itself represents women’s work to me, and the frequent status of women as civilians, unwilling participants, and victims of sexual abuse and violence during war.