Senior Designer Spotlight: Kristen Faber

Name: Kristen Faber

Degree: BA

FS²: Who is your dream client?

Kristen Faber: My dream client would be Mila Kunis. I love her and her style!

FS²: Where did inspiration for your collection come from?

KF: I was inspired by a Czech building called the "Dancing House"

FS²: What are you most proud of as far as your accomplishments go in the fashion school?

KF: I'm most proud of my internship and the connections I've made. I'm also proud of how far I've come as a designer.

FS²: What are your plans after graduation?

KF: I hope to do a little traveling and find a job working in knitwear or textile design. The dream would be to open my own company.

Senior Designer Spotlight: Marquis Lao

Name: Marquis Lao

Degree: BA

FS²: Where do you find your inspiration?

Maquis Lao: I find inspiration in many things. There’s so much in the world that

influences my designs and lately it’s been pretty conceptual themes that 

reflect what’s going on in the world today and it’s many issues.

FS²: Where have you interned?

ML: I have interned at a high school, helping to construct the costumes for their

musical so far. But I hope to score an internship with Marchesa or Zac Posen.

FS²: What was the first thing you ever designed?

ML: A canvas bag with hand printed math equations on the bag. ALL HAND

SEWN! It was through a fashion camp that I took part in growing up. 

Machine sewing wise: a horrendous green basic sloper dress for my draping 

class, haha.

FS²: When did you become interested in design?

ML: I became interested in design probably around the age of 5? It’s almost

hard to remember but I knew I wanted to be in fashion when my mom took 

me shopping and I’d look at all the cool things in the store and my mom’s side 

of the family is pretty rooted in dressing to impress. And my mom got me 

these really beautiful Barbie doll dresses that were so detailed. I think all 

these factors is what really got me interested in design.

FS²: What do you listen to while you work?

ML: I think it changes depending on the time of day and what I’m feeling, but I

usually listen to hip-hop/r&b, EDM, and K-pop. EDM is what helps keep me 

up so I can finish my work.

FS²: Have you studied abroad? If so, where and how did that change the way you design?

ML: Florence Spring 2015! It has solidified my design aesthetic as a designer. It’s

made me realize exactly what aesthetic I like doing and what market I want 

to target and it’s just given me the creative awakening that I needed. I advise 

everyone to try and save up for study abroad cause it’s seriously amazing. LIFE CHANGING.

Senior Designer Spotlight: Jasmine Summers

Name: Jasmine Summers

Degree: BA

FS²: Where do you find inspiration?

Jasmine Summers: I find most of my inspiration in history- historical figures, artists, events, etc.

FS²: How did you become interested in design?

JS: I spent a lot of time doing arts and crafts as a kid, so when I was 10 my mom taught me to sew. It seemed a natural extension of the arts and crafts that I already spent so much time doing, and I was better at sewing than I was at drawing so I stuck with it. The lumpy pillows I made soon progressed into sewing garments, so that's how I started getting interested in fashion design.  

FS²: Where have you interned?

JS: I have interned for Rachel Antonoff, Stoll Fashion & Technology, and Macy's, all during a six month stay in NYC last year.

FS²: What kind of music do you listen to while working?

JS: It changes season to season, but at the moment I'm listening to Florist, Rostam, The 1975, and Grimes.

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

JS: Studying at the NYC Studio was foundational to developing my feminine aesthetic and knitwear focus. 

FS²: Do you have any advice for aspiring designers?

JS: Teach yourself and research what you want to be creating- market, aesthetic, niche. The sooner you can figure out what is right for you to design, the better.

Senior Designer Spotlight: Zane Lehman

Name: Zane Lehman

Degree: BA

FS²: Where do you find inspiration?

Zane Lehman: My collections come to me in my dreams.

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

ZL: I like to design with strange forms or techniques that haven't been designed before.

FS²: Favorite snack while working?

ZL: Superhero Pop Tarts.

FS²: Any advice for aspiring designers?

ZL: Knowing when and when not to listen to the teachers design advice.

FS²: How did you become interested in design?

ZL: I love to make things with my hands

FS²: Do you listen to any music while working?

ZL: The rhythm of the Juki

Senior Designer Spotlight: Jillian Bond

Name: Jillian Bond

Degree: BA

FS²: How did you become interested in design?

Jillian Bond: I was originally a Merchandising major with an interest in Visual Communication and planned on attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise, so I started in a community where they had a sewing class that was mandatory for freshman merchandising students. The first week of that sewing class I fell in love and I knew I needed to be the one designing and making the clothing.

FS²: Coffee order? Tree City or Starbucks?

JB: Tree City! They have this maple latte in the fall that is to die for and a rose lemonade in the spring. And if it's a long day in the studio, I'll grab one of their homemade peanut butter sandwiches. 

FS²: Music you listen to while working?

JB: The music I listen to while working pretty much depends when the due date is, haha. I definitely listen to fast, upbeat music during all nighters and sewing to keep me awake and moving quickly.

FS²: Most you've spent on fabric?

JB: I can't recall a time where I spent an insane amount of money on fabric, but I have spent about $300 just on yarn. 

FS²: Favorite snack while working?

JB: Does coffee count as a snack? 

FS²: Most proud of?

JB: I am most proud of my senior thesis collection. It is a very emotional collection for me and mirrors who I am as a designer and also a person.

Senior Designer Profile: Leah Haynes

Name: Leah Haynes

Degree: BA

FS²:  I hear you’re doing a collection on childrenswear, where did you get inspiration for your line?

Leah Haynes: My collection is inspired by hiking in the fall. I started with the technical details on hiking gear for adults and mixed in kid-friendly woodland creatures that you might meet on a hike. 

FS²: What are you most proud of as far as your accomplishments go in The Fashion School?

LH: My biggest accomplishment in The Fashion School so far is really just getting to senior year. It's been a tough road but so worth all the hard work! 

FS²: What is your coffee order?

LH: Mocha, no whip, with an extra shot of espresso.

FS²: What is your dream job?

LH: My dream job would be to design a boutique children's brand that uses profits to provide clothing, shoes, and toys to children in need both domestically and globally.  

Senior Designer Spotlight: Kelsi McCafferty

Name: Kelsi McCafferty

Degree: BA

FS²:  How would you define your personal style and how is it reflected in your work?

Kelsi McCafferty: In terms of personal style, I just wear things that I like. It doesn't matter if it's designer label or thrifted, if I like it I will wear it. I always seem to come back to feminine, but eclectic styles, which is definitely how I design as well. My design aesthetic is print focused with a lot of color and fun surface detailing. Fashion should always be fun and I try to keep my designs charming and a little funky.

FS²: Who is your dream client?

KM: My dream clients would be Gina Rodriguez or Mindy Kaling. Two wonderfully inspirational women that I think would appreciate and rock my prints. 

FS²: What is your coffee/tea order?

KM: Herbal tea with a spoonful of honey.

FS²: Any advice for aspiring designers?

KM: Don't take fashion too seriously. I think that a lot of people get caught up in the supposed fashion "do's" and "don't's" and it inhibits their design process. Not everything has to be dark and stormy. Maybe we can make color the "new black" for a change.