Phantom Thread

Model, artist and all-round mistress of her own craft, Sheena Liam takes over our latest issue with her piercing physiognomy and nifty needlecraft that brought Times New Romance—a weaving of personal stories and intimate thoughts that mirror a woman’s rich and complex life tapestry—into existence.

- NIKITA NAWAWI

How did you come up with Times New Romance?

It’s a play, obviously, on the font. I just thought it was cute. I tried to get the exact name for Instagram at first but for some reason the app wouldn’t let me. Here’s the thing, Instagram names have evolved to become such a definition of who you are. Like, often I know a person by their Instagram name. I don’t even know their real names anymore. It just snuck up on us and it’s so scary how it did; how Internet identities are becoming more of our identities than our own names.

Going back to simpler times when there was no Internet, what was the first thing your mother taught you about embroidery?