Senior Designer Spotlight: Lizz Henrich

Name: Lizz Henrich

Degree: BFA

FS²: Where do you find inspiration?

Lizz Henrich: I pull a lot of inspiration from other people's occupations and explore how I can relate those to the fashion industry. Doctors, engineers and scientists for example. For my senior collection, I looked at Gadgeteers from Steampunk and how I could apply their work to design.

FS²: How did you become interested in design?

LH: My grandmother taught me how to sew and draw at a young age and it just took off from there!

FS²: How is your personal style reflected in your work?

LH: My personal style is a mix of everything, honestly! Typically something oversized baggy and with a hint of grunge. Also, dark colors and lack of prints are similar to my own style. I use a lot of fullness which I think pulls from my love of oversized garments.

FS²: Music you listen to while working?

LH: The "Creativity Boost" playlist on Spotify.

FS²: Favorite class you've taken at The Fashion School?

LH: Fashion TechStyle Lab-- I loved learning about and playing with all the great equipment we have at The Fashion School.

FS²: What are you most proud of?

LH: I'm most proud of me Senior Collection as a whole, but within that, my long vest. Sewing together like a puzzle with no conventional seaming-- each corner was faced with organza, then hand sewn on the machine.

FS²: Did you study abroad? If so, how has that influenced your designs?

LH: Yes! I went to Florence, Italy in the fall of my junior year-- THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. It has absolutely influenced my work. If you are debating to go... GO GO GO!!

Senior Designer Spotlight: Ana White

Name: Ana White

Degree: BFA

FS²: First piece you ever made?

Ana White: In all honesty, probably the children’s outfit in Basics of Apparel Construction! (Shout-out to Mrs. James for not failing me)

FS²: Where have you interned?

AW: I interned full time at Derek Lam for 4 months in NYC last summer and loved it!

FS²: How did you become interested in design?

AW: My mom used to buy me fashion magazines when I was probably in the 5^th or 6^th grade, and I became obsessed with the clothing and pictures. It kind of just grew from there as I went into high school!

FS²: How is your personal style reflected in your work?

AW: Because I like cleaner, more modern lines, I tend to subconsciously design around that. Even if there’s print or surface detail, you’ll find the majority of my collections have fairly simple silhouettes, which is something I love.

FS²: Favorite snack while working?

AW: Unfortunately for my figure: Wendy’s. Great for the soul, not for the body.

FS²: Most challenging part of being a design student?

AW: Time management and the overall commitment. I’ve definitely had a few sad weekends watching my friends go out and have fun while I had a big deadline to meet, but if it’s something you love, it’s all worth it in the end!

Senior Designer Spotlight: Camille Proctor

Name: Camille Proctor

Degree: BFA

FS²: How did you become interested in design?

Camille Proctor: I’ve always been intrigued by garment construction. I have an art background and when I realized how much freedom there is in apparel design I was hooked.

FS²: Favorite snack while working?

CP: My absolute favorite are Twizzlers but I’m trying to eat healthier so currently unsalted roasted almonds.

FS²: What was the first piece you ever designed?

CP: I made a knit skirt for my baby sister.

FS²: What is your favorite class you've taken at the Fashion School?

CP: I have two! My favorite classes I’ve taken here would have to be Apparel construction for specialty markets/advanced pattern making with Uncle Q (Mr. Quevedo) because he helped me fall in love with fabric manipulation. My second favorite was the Tech Style Lab course because I got to see how technology is moving fashion forward.

FS²: Plans for the future?

CP: This reminds me of a quote “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans”. Maybe you’ll find me on a trolley in San Francisco headed to Gap or in New York working for Stella McCartney. Only God knows but I would love to focus on print design and fabric manipulation.

FS²: Advice for aspiring designers?

CP:  My advice would be to not let anyone change your mind and do what’s best for you. Stay ahead of the game and don’t take the easy way out. Explore every opportunity that is given to you because it might not come back around.

Senior Designer Spotlight: Delinda Starks

Name: Delinda Starks

Degree: BFA

FS²: How did you become interested in design?

Delinda Starks: My grandfather was very artistic and grandmother a seamstress, I like to believe i got my interest from the both of them. I always had a creative imagination and loved to draw. I've been drawing clothes since I was very little, and it always bothered me how what you wore categorized you in school. It only made me want to learn how to make whatever designs I wanted, to stand out from everyone else even more.

FS²: Music you listen to while working?

DS: Reggae or Calibre to keep me awake and moving at a swift pace.

FS²: Favorite emoji?

DS: The crying laughing face. I'm always laughing with family and friends.

FS²: Favorite class you've taken at the Fashion School?

DS: The Techstyle Lab elective, learning to use the equipment in the lab was a great opportunity to gain more skills I could use in the work force.

FS²: Coffee or tea?

DS: Tea, peppermint specifically 

FS²: Most proud of?

DS: Proving the doubters wrong. Accomplishing the goals I set for myself is a great feeling and looking back, I am glad I did not let anyone talk me out of doing what makes me happy.

Senior Designer Spotlight: Calvin Brant

Name: Calvin Brant

Degree: BFA

FS²: How did you become interested in design?

Calvin Brant: When I failed at everything else, my story isn’t a pretty one and not particularly noble, but it started with fabric, I could feel the textures and the forms and I new the treasure that each interlacing thread was, it was there I could finally see the potential in myself too.

FS²: How would you define your personal style?

CB: Sartorial, Apocalyptic, Druidic. I am just a huge fan of the simple ya’ know?

FS²: What music do you listen to while working?

CB: Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 9. Its in classical you hear the most purest inspiration, no lyrics, no spoken bias, just pure unadulterated emotion. 

FS²: Most challenging part of being a design student?

CB: Two words: hand-sewing.

FS²: What are you most proud of?

CB: Making my father proud.

FS²: Any advice for aspiring designers?

CB: Never give up, never go back, never surrender.

Senior Designer Spotlight: Kara Kroeger

Name: Kara Kroeger

Degree: BFA

FS²: Where do you find inspiration?

Kara Kroeger: I find inspiration from organic shapes and movement.

FS²: Where have you interned?

KK: 3.1 Phillip Lim

FS²: How is your personal style reflected in your work?

KK: It isn't, surprisingly! I tend to design for how I wish I could dress. Fashion is more of a fantasy to me.

FS²: Favorite class you've taken at the Fashion School?

KK: Any drawing class. I've always loved drawing, especially when I'm drawing something that can be created.

FS²: Favorite emoji?

KK: The blushing smiley face.

FS²: Have you studied abroad? If so, has it influenced your designs?

KK: I studied in NYC. It definitely inspired me to be free with how I think. Being a perfectionist has its perks, but there's a new kind of creativity that comes from letting go.

Senior Designer Spotlight: Lydia Dallas

Name: Lydia Dallas

Major: BA

FS²: Where do you find inspiration?

Lydia Dallas: For many of my collections I pull inspiration from different places I was able to travel when I studied abroad in Florence during Fall semester of my junior year. I'm also drawn to art and architecture.

FS²: Where have you interned?

LD: I interned for an independent designer, Paul Carroll, in New York City this past summer. A lot of what he creates would be considered cocktail wear; dresses are my favorite pieces to create so I had a lot of fun with that. I was able to help with the pattern making, draping, sewing, and learned a lot about hand beading and sequining. It was great being able to help create a collection from start to finish. 

FS²: Favorite snack while working?

LD: Popcorn

FS²: Dream client?

LD: Jennifer Lawrence. She seems like she would be fun to work with and she is from my hometown (Louisville, KY)

FS²: Music you listen to while working?

LD: Almost anything; Ellie Goulding, Vance Joy, Coldplay, Sia, Lumineers

FS²: Did you study abroad? If so, has that influenced your designs?

LD: Definitely! The sites I visited in Italy as well as other countries have been pulled into many of my projects.