Alaska
"My thesis collection for the Academy of Art University graduation fashion show was inspired by a week long backpacking trip I went on in the Chugach mountain range in Alaska. I began my design process by gathering secondhand tents and using the materials to create my initial drapes and sketches. I used these tents for every part of my process including drapes, toiles, and about 70% of the final fabrics, trims, and finishings for the collection. The other 30% of the fabrics used were tent-like materials such as ripstop and canvas, that I printed with photos of the mountains and the glaciers that I took throughout my trip. Along with the sustainability aspect of this project, I was inspired by the depths of the crevasses and the height of the mountains. You never know how big the world really is until you're dropped into the middle of a glacier in a tiny bush plane."
A Big Change
This collection was inspired by the idea of being dulled down by a corporation's want to make money and lack of care for individuals. The idea is that, she starts off showing her vibrant, eccentric style, and throughout her career is forced to dull her personality down to fit the corporate standard. For the classic, business casual pieces in the collection, I took inspiration from the colors and silhouettes used in the hit show, "Severance". For the colors and textures of the more eccentric side, I took inspiration from a textile artist named Sarah Zapata. I combined these two very different inspirations to create a gradual change that can be perceived as both positive and negative, depending on how you look at it.
Plimsy, Rumi, Junip, Nom, and Minu!
"When coming up for the idea for this collection, I was reading the book Pineapple Street, by Jenny Jackson. I wanted to do an unconventional and unique take on the message of this book and turn it into a children's wear collection. The book discusses ideas of privilege and class differences, set in a very privileged neighborhood of New York City. I created an inclusive, gender neutral, diverse collection, inspired by the colors, prints, and fabrications of the upper class New Yorkers depicted in the book. Many of my designs contain convertible pieces, such as skirts that turn into shorts and rompers that turn into dresses, as well as unisex denim and reversible t-shirts. I created a crew of characters that represent no particular gender, race, class, or abilities. All kids can wear these characters proudly and feel equally represented through style."
