Balsa de mi Sangre is based on the perilous journey of illegal immigration across the Caribbean Sea. The rounded shape of the skirt resembles an inflatable raft, adorned with swirling cutouts. As light filters through the skirt, an intricate interplay of overlapping light and shadow emerges, creating the illusion of a sea within the piece itself. The scarlet armpiece encircling the wearer’s limb was designed with the idea of salvation in mind; many Cubans risk their lives crossing the ocean in search of a better life in the United States. In my research, I noted how many people raised their hands toward the sky, as if trying to grasp it. I wanted the encirclement around the outstretched hand to capture the struggle—the fight for a new beginning.