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DAY in the LIFE
ZOE LARSON/KANSAN
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The end of the semester hasn't come as a surprise to anyone. Some students are showing up to classes for the first time since September, finals are creeping up, winter is coming and the campus is winding down.
It has been 16 weeks since we first sat down in class. Most of us chose the same seat each day, sitting next to the same person. We might have been strangers at the beginning, but after 16 weeks, wed like to think we know our classmates better and can even count them as our friends.
But how well do you really know them? You may think they're quiet, but they could be a talented violinist outside of biology class. You may glance over at her doodles in her notebook, not knowing she designs compression garments and a fashion line. You may know she's the most dedicated person in class, but you may not know it's because she's a first-generation, student putting herself through college on her own dime.
These are the students featured in this issue of Day in the Life, but they're not the only people at the University with unique stories. People come to Lawrence from all over the country and the world, bringing their specific backgrounds and experiences with them.
Day in the Life celebrates this diversity and uniqueness. From students to faculty to staff, Jayhawks on campus do incredible things, and this is just a sample of it all.
Miranda Treas poses in front of her compression garments
— Kate Miller, Features Editor
DESIGN BY ROXY TOWNSEND
LARA KORTE
@lara_korte
If you wander into Chalmers Hall any given day of the week, chances are you'll find Miranda Treas working diligently in the senior studio.
The senior textiles major from Kansas City, Kan., spends over 40 hours a week in the room surrounded by fabric samples, bottles of dye and sewing patterns. Her latest work-in-progress, which hangs on the walls, imitates the pinkish sponges of a coral reef. The material itself is felted fur from Treas' own pet rabbit, Aria. Treas said one of her favorite parts of her work is diving into new fabric techniques like felting and weaving.
Most days Treas is here, she is working between classes on fresh color combinations for her projects. On weekends, Treas switches gears from schoolwork to business work. Her underwear line, "Treas" is currently sold in a pop-up shop in Mission Hills as well as a lingerie boutique in Kansas City.
However, Treas' newest endeavor is something that isn't known so much for its style as its function. Earlier this year, Treas began designing and producing compression garments for transgender people.
Treas first started sewing compression garments when she was 15. She spent summers and holiday breaks sewing at a post-surgical garments company where her aunt worked. As of this year, Treas and her aunt started their line of compression garments they design and create together.
In contrast to her fresh colorful creations in the studio, Treas' compression garments are simple and discreet, and that's just how clients want them.
Almost indistinguishable from an average tank top, the garments are light-beige and made of a thin, stretchy material called lyrca. The pieces are meant to be worn under clothing, while inverted seams compress in to give the wearer the desired silhouette.
Treas said her garments are designed to help transgender people feel like themselves.
Although Treas said compression can be an important part of helping a transgender person feel like themselves, it can also be dangerous if not done correctly.
"Before you're able to get surgery, youre stuck with your old body,and these garments help you feel like who you are meant to be and who you want to be,"Treas said.
Through working with the trans community, Treas said she has learned about the dangers of binding and bandaging from stories of injured bodies, even broken ribs.
"There are things in your body that you can't put that much pressure on," Treas said. "People physically hurting themselves because they want to look a certain way just should not be an issue."
Treas and her aunt, Laura Treas,
take special care when creating their
garments. Although they do produce
a stock of generic compression tanks
and underwear, they also do custom
fittings for different body types.
Earlier this fall, the duo decided to switch from offering their products in an online store to offering them
to children's hospitals and foster care systems. Miranda said they are currently in the stages of negotiating contracts to make their products available in those spaces. However, she said it can be difficult to finalize products because, when working with young bodies, they must be very careful.
"The garments they wear can really shape them for life, which can be a good thing but also a really bad thing." Miranda said.
Laura said she is currently working with doctors to see what is correct for developing bodies.
"We've talked about having a little bit lighter compression," Laura said, "but we just want to get doctor's approval before we go forward with that."
Although Miranda and her aunt began making their own line of garments only recently, the pair has been working side-by-side for years to give the best of their sewing and designing skills to transgender people.
Laura said when Miranda first came to work for her at the post-surgical garments company during high school, she found she had quite the knack for sewing. Although she was working alongside well-seasoned industry garment workers, Laura said the high school student was able to work twice as fast as her professional counterparts.
"She taught them a lot," Laura said. "She showed them how to go fast and look very, very calm."
Laura said her niece's proficiency earned her independence and freedom in her work.
"She could not keep her own schedule, she was so fast; everyone just let her come and go," Laura said.
After enrolling in a fashion design program her junior year of high school, Miranda began to expand her skill set. Laura said when she would do custom fittings for clients, Miranda would often be in the room making suggestions and offering advice.
"She was the only other design person in the building besides me," Laura said. "It gave me confidence too, and that was helpful."
Now, as a senior in college, Laura said Miranda is still providing her with support and ideas as they move forward with their independent venture.
"It's so nice to have her now as this creative, young adult that's so smart and brings things to the table," Laura said. "We have different talents; she brings things to the table that I don't think of, and we work together well that way"
In the future, Miranda said she wants to continue working for herself. Right now her bra and underwear line is sold at Birdie's, a lingerie shop in Kansas City as well as the pop-up shop. She hopes to have a website up and running by the time she graduates.
As for her line of compression garments, Miranda said she's going to keep moving forward with her aunt on making them available to those who need them. Miranda said making the compression garments is her way of "doing good."
"It just makes me feel like I'm giving back," Miranda said. "You should just want to do good, and this is something that I feel is good."
AUSTIN, TEXAS, REGIONAL
The No. 3 Texas Longhorns (27-2), the No. 14 UCLA Bruins (25-7), the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers (28-6) and the No. 11 Florida Gators (24-6) make up the Austin, Texas, Regional.
The Longhorns and the Bruins face off on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. central time. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
The Badgers and the Gators face off on Friday, Dec. 11 at 4:30 p.m. central time. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
**PREDICTION:** Texas tops UCLA, and Wisconsin defeats Florida, with Texas upending Wisconsin for a bid to the Final Four.
LEXINGTON, KY., REGIONAL
The No. 5 Washington Huskies (30-2), the No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes (25-9), the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers (28-4) and the No. 13 BYU Cougars (28-3) make up the Lexington, Ky., Regional.
The Huskies and the Buckeyes face off on Friday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. central time. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
The Huskers and the Cougars play on Friday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m.
central time. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
PREDICTION: Washington defeats Ohio State, and Nebraska tops BYU. Nebraska edges out Washington for a Final Four bid.
Graphic by Jake Kaufmann/KANSAN
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