The holidays are right around the corner and for many of you that means traveling to a far off destination. Whether your vacation takes you to a big city or a tropical island, Fashion School Daily has you covered for what to wear to make this vacation your most fashionable yet.

If you’re traveling to a big city like New York or Paris, knowing how to dress is just as essential as knowing how to hail a cab. Basic black will take you far, and over the knee boots will keep your feet warm while trudging through the snow. A cape is a great way to stay warm without looking like a marshmallow, and green accent pieces will add the same magic that the city lights give the skyline. Pack these items and you’ll be all set for your city adventure.

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs phone case 2. Fendi jacket 3. Marni clutch 4. Gianvito Rossi boot 5. Saint Laurent cape 6. The Row skirt 7. Cut 25 8. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel 9. Lanvin earrings 10. House of Holland dress

While some of us will be waking up early to shovel the driveway, a lucky few of you will be traveling somewhere hot. The extreme heat calls for tanning spray to keep you from looking as white as a snowman in the middle of the desert. Throw a can in your carry-on and your skin will glow! In this climate, all of your time can be spent in a bikini so make sure it’s a good one! A metallic two piece is a great option. After a day in the sand, throw on a pair of snakeskin shorts or a breezy dress and you’ll be all set for dinner and drinks. Dress like this and anyone looking at you will find you as appealing as an oasis in the middle of the desert.

1. Gucci shades 2. Melissa Odabash bikini 3. James Read tanning spray 4. Tomas Maier dress 5. AURÉLIE BIDERMANN ring 6. Lareida top 7. Laurence Dacade heel 8. Mulberry crossbody 9. Topshop Unique shorts 10. Maiyet

Who hasn’t dreamed of leaving behind the stress of the holidays and lounging all day on a tropical beach somewhere? Well, for some of you the dream has come true and the only stress you have this year is what to pack for your getaway. Bathing suits are essential, so pack more than one!  A one piece is great for snorkeling and a printed  bikini will look great laying out in the sun on a fun towel. Throw a pair of shades, a good book, sandals and coconut tanning oil into a beach bag and let all your cares melt away.

1. Fendi shades 2. Lemlem tunic 3. Baja East towel 4. Assouline St Barths 5. Christian Wijnants 6. Lavett & Chin moisturizing facial mist 7. Eres bikini 8. Ancient Greek Sandals 9. Sensi Studios tote 10. Lisa Marie Fernandez one piece

Many readers are dreaming of a white Christmas and need to layer to stay warm! Throw on a pair of jeans and a statement sweater and get comfy in a foldout chair by the fire. When leaving the house to make a snow angel or to go sledding, may sure to bundle up in a shearling hat, scarf and boots to keep the frostbite away. In these cozy pieces, your holiday vacation will be filled with joy as you sip hot coco, ice skate and bake cookies!

1. Madewell cap 2. MSGM pants 3. Chloe 4. 6397 5. Juniper Ridge soap 6. Elder Statesman sleeping bag 7. Joie boot 8. Madewell scarf 9. Isabel Marant sweater 10. Blue Ridge Chair Works X Without Walls foldout chair

Wherever you plan on spending the holidays, make sure to enjoy yourself and your loved ones! Happy Holidays!

Trend Boards by Brittany Caldwell

Text by Tess Collins

Tim Coppens for Public Supply

Joe’s Blackbook, a consulting firm that specializes in connecting talent with companies in the creative industries, has paired with Public Supply, a New York City based notebook brand, to bring special-edition notebooks just in time for the holidays! Public Supply and Joe’s Blackbook have teamed with fashion designers Tim Coppens, Robert Geller and Band of Outsiders‘ Scott Sternberg, to create limed edition notebooks. Each designer created two notebooks with their signature touch. The notebooks make a perfect gift and also benefit a worthy cause. The notebooks are available for purchase now and retail for $20.00. For every notebook sold, 25% of the proceeds will go towards Joe’s Blackbook Scholarship Fund. The Fund awards one menswear and one womenswear designer with a $10,000 scholarship.

Band of Outfitters for Public Supply

These limited-edition notebooks are receiving rave reviews and are flying off the shelf! They have been written up in The New York Times, InStyle, Complex and Hypebeast and they make excellent stocking stuffers! Pick out your favorite designer’s notebook and donate to a great cause. This collaboration is a holiday treat not to be missed! You can buy them here!

Robert Geller for Public Supply

By Tess Collins

“Be Merry” sweater by Designs by Chibi.

Have you received an invitation to an ugly Christmas sweater party yet? If not, there’s most likely an upcoming occasion where a holiday sweater would come in handy. If you need to buy one anyway, why not support an Academy of Art University Alumna while doing it?

“The Penguin Emperor” sweater by Designs by Chibi.

For the holiday season, Designs by Chibi will offer a small selection of ugly Christmas sweaters, which are actually really cute! The sweaters are unisex and have humorous images along with more classic designs. There is even a “selfie” sweater, making is possibly the most pop culturally relevant ugly sweater on the market! All of the sweaters are priced at $59.99 and are available in sizes small, medium and large.

“Selfie” sweater by Designs by Chibi.

Still need more convincing? In honor of the holiday spirit, Designs by Chibi will donate $1.00 from every sweater purchased to the Roslin Orphanage located in West Timor, Indonesia. There is also a link that gives the option to donate more to this cause!

Photo from the Roslin orphanage, photo courtesy of Designs by Chibi website.

Academy of Art University Alumna Sha Suganda, BFA Fashion Design, runs the brand. After working for many large fashion companies including Macys and Liz Claiborne, Sha started “Designs by Chibi”. The brand is named after Sha’s Boston Terrier, Chibi. Sha grew up in Bandung, a city in Indonesia famous for its textiles. Growing up there, she learned a lot about sewing, knitting and cutting fabric. Pair that knowledge with her training at The Academy of Art University and its no wonder these sweaters are receiving rave reviews from customers. According to Designs by Chibi’s website, “designs by Chibi” was established to deliver exceptional designs with, strong attention to details, great hand feel, and long lasting products which offer great value to consumers.

Photo of Chibi, Sha Suganda’s Boston Terrier.

In one purchase a charitable donation can be made, an Academy of Art University graduate will receive support for her endeavors, and you’ll get an ugly sweater you’ll actually want to wear year round! Visit the site to check out the entire collection of sweaters.

By Tess Collins

Photo of Agustin Sanders, courtesy of Apartment415.com

Since his graduation in 2008, Agustin Sanders   has become a teacher for the Interior Architecture and Design Department and started his own line of stylish pillows. His brand, Apartment 415, is named for the area code of his design studio. He merged together his love of fashion and his training in interiors to create a line of high end fashion throw pillows. His products can be found online and at the Academy’s retail store SHOP657. Find out what he had to say to Fashion School Daily!

Miss MORE pillow available for $75.00 at www.apartment415.com

Tess Collins: What was it like after graduation?

Agustin Sanders: A semester before graduation I started working with the Academy of Art University and Dr. Stephens. I was designing different spaces for the University, after that I started teaching for the Interior Architecture & Design Department. It’s been almost 5 years!

TC: What is your  favorite memory or piece of advice from your time at the Academy?

AS: I don’t think it was advice but the amazing support he gave me and still is giving was from my favorite instructor Ken Frieders, and of course Dr. Stephens. Thank you!

Photo courtesy of Agustin Sanders

TC: How did you get your brand off the ground?

AS: Ever since taking the textile design class in the School of Fashion I was very interested in designing my own textiles for interiors and fashion. The combination of both fashion and interior design is what got me to start Apartment 415, a brand that would merge both disciplines.

TC: What is a typical day like for you?

AS: Waking up in the middle of the night around 3:30 a.m. to check my Instagram and start thinking about work and design ideas, I usually get the best ideas at this time! Then I go back to sleep, wake up and decide if I’m going to the gym or not (most of the time I don’t!) and head to school and teach depending on the day. Then I go back home to work work on some designs, social media, etc. I have dinner and a glass of wine or two and then do it all over again.

TC: What are the biggest challenges you have faced?

AS: I’m pretty much running my own company and working full time, so the biggest challenge is time management. I run my small line from my work studio, so space is also a huge challenge… but hey, it’s San Francisco, we all need more space!

TC: When did you feel like you had made it? Have you felt that way yet?

AS: I think there is still much more work to do, but I would love to do collaborations with several designers, not only in interiors but fashion and art. I would love to do a pillow collaboration with Fornasetti, a textile collaboration with with Kelly Wearstler and an interior design collaboration with Maxime Jacquet.

Photo courtesy of Agustin Sanders

TC: What’s next for you?

Keep working, working, working. I want apartment 415 to turn into STUDIO 415…! There might be plans for a Kimono and T-shirt line, stay tuned.

TC: Besides SHOP657, where are your products available for purchase?

AS: At the moment SHOP657 is the only brick and mortar where you can get Apartment 415, but my products are also available online but I am hoping there is an Apartment 415 store in the future!

TC: What from SHOP657 is on your wish list? 

AS: The shop looks great, there are so many cool things I’ve seen like some interesting accessories that I might need to purchase!

Be sure to check out Agustin Sander’s line, Apartment 415, at SHOP657! His pillows would make an excellent gift for anyone having you over to their house or for anyone that likes to make a big statement!

By Tess Collins

On Tuesday, December 16th, staff from one of the world’s most well-known brands, Nike, came to visit SHOP657.

Since it was a Tuesday, the store was not open for business as usual, but that didn’t stop a few wanderers off the street from coming in to browse the wares. Since its opening earlier this month the shop has attracted a lot of foot traffic. The store is marked with a small Academy of Art University logo on the front door, but apart from that logo the store looks just like any other retail store in Union Square.”We really wanted, first and foremost, to make it a real retail experience,” explained Senior Director of Merchandising Keanan Duffty.

Before the presentation began, Mona Li, a partner of Mute Studios, was on hand to answer a few questions about the brand. She spoke with Nike and the film crew from the Academy’s cyber campus, showing off her partner Joanne Lu’s designs and spoke about their next venture, DeMute, which will merge fashion with technology and give a platform to emerging talent.

The team from Nike, which consisted of about 15 team members from a variety of different departments, came to the store ready to be wowed. Students from Academy of Art University that staff the store were there to greet the Nike team. Once everyone was gathered the presentation of the store began.

SHOP657 Employees show the Nike team around the store. Photo by Bob Toy.

The shop emerged from the Spring pop up shop earlier this year; the pop up shop enjoyed such success that the Merchandising department decided to take the idea further and expand into a permanent retail space. “With great gusto, we lept in and got the space ready,” Keanan Duffty described of the process to get the shop off of the ground. The store is a way for students to get real life experience in product development, merchandising and retail while providing a space for alumni to sell their merchandise and gain a following.

The store, which is in the space formerly occupied by Marty’s Liquors & Gourmet, still has the logo of the spirit’s store hanging above the entrance. “I like the underground nature of this place,” Duffty said as he talked about the intention behind leaving the old signage there. The shop certainly has an underground feel, with the wood-like and camouflage installations created by the visual merchandising team. Adding dimension and a little bit of a club vibe to the store is a wall projection of the Academy of Art New York Fashion Week Show and stills from 180 Magazine. This space and work that went into getting the store going is impressive and the Nike team took notice.

SHOP657 Employees show the Nike team a beautiful dress by Mansoor Scott. Photo by Bob Toy.

The students have a real hands on experience as the running and operating of the shop is integrated into their curriculum. From creating a marketing plan to packaging, the students are really given the opportunity to be in charge of the store. The students who presented were ready for every question that Nike asked, and were poised and extremely knowledgeable on all of the products. The Nike team asked them questions about their futures, what their favorite items in the store are, and what kind of customers they got in the store.

Why a retail store?  Duffty feels like “it was the piece of the pie that was missing” for the School of Fashion. The shop combines so many different departments and is a great opportunity for many students to get experience and gain recognition. It’s the perfect platform to help launch the careers of the talented students at the Academy. Looking to the future, when students come back from the holiday break they will take all of the momentum that they have gained and continue to grow and re-create themselves with new designers and new visuals. The goal of the store is to create a memorable retail experience for the consumer and create first hand knowledge for students.

With the impressed response from Nike and the buzz that SHOP657 is gaining, there are most definitely good things in store for SHOP657. If you haven’t been to the shop yet, go check it out!

By Tess Collins

This photo shoot is a collaboration between Academy of Art University Alumni photographer Aldo Carrera, 2014 BFA Fashion Design Yuko Okudaira and BFA styling student Katelyn Johnson. Chinatown served as the backdrop for Yuko’s pieces; which blended in perfectly with the graffiti and created the perfect high fashion backdrop.

Aldo Carrera was inspired by Chinatown and the fact that the graffiti hasn’t been “buffed out” like it has in the newly gentrified districts of San Francisco. Aldo Carrera is a fashion photographer based out of San Francisco whose work has been featured many times on Fashion School Daily as well as multiple other publications.

Yuko Okudaira’s pieces fit perfectly in this photo shoot. For her graduation collection, she used graffiti as the inspiration and used spray paint to get the desired look. Her clothing makes a statement that did not go unnoticed at the Academy of Art University Spring Graduation Show. She was awarded a design internship with Missoni, a San Francisco Paris Sister City Scholarship Exchange in Paris and an internship with BCBG! Her talent also caught the eye of Aldo Carrera and together these two talented Academy of Art University Alumni’s have created a high end photo shoot that finds the beauty in graffiti!

Clothing by Yuko Okudaira

Produced and styled by Katelyn Johnson.

Text by Tess Collins

As 2014 draws to a close and we ready ourselves to welcome a new year, we can’t help but reflect on all of the successes the last twelve months have brought. From stunning runway shows in New York and San Francisco to inspiring guest talks by industry insiders, 2014 was a great year for the School of Fashion.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane to relive some of the biggest milestones of 2014, and join us in looking forward to a new year filled with great talent and even greater fashion!

Fall 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center

Academy Of Art University Fall 2014 Collections – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Photo by Randy Brooke/WireImage.

Every designer dreams of showing their collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and on Friday, February 7, 2014, that dream came true for 13 designers from the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University. For the Fall 2014 season, 13 designers presented eight collections, four of which were collaborations between Fashion Design and Textile Design students. In total, six womenswear and two menswear collections were presented at the Academy of Art University Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week show.

2014 Graduation Fashion Show in San Francisco

Runway shots by Randy Brooke, WireImage.

On Thursday, May 8, 2014, 30 student designers’ hard work was realized as they saw their collections walk the runway at the annual Academy of Art University Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony. In addition to showcasing student work for this year’s Guests of Honor – Rosita Missoni, Angela Missoni, and Margherita Maccapani Missoni- the fashion show introduced 20 collaborative collections of these BFA students who studied Fashion Design, Knitwear Design, Technical Design, Textile Design, and Jewelry and Metal Arts, to some of the most influential members of the fashion world.

During their visit, Rosita, Angela and Margherita spent time seeing classrooms, viewing student work, and took part in a discussion with Suzy Menkes, International Vogue Editor of Condé Nast, and moderated by Gladys Perint Palmer. The conversation touched on the Missoni brand’s success as a family business, the way that the Missoni lifestyle has shaped the company, their fashion inspiration, and even some insights into the family dynamic.

In addition, the guests of honor awarded BFA Fashion Design student Yuko Okudaira, whose work appeared on the Graduation Fashion Show runway, an internship with Missoni in Milan, Italy.

School of Fashion Hosts Pop Up SHOP

Photo by Bob Toy

In May of 2014 the School of Fashion Merchandising program created a temporary guerrilla store called SHOP. The store, which was open between May 20-31 and housed within the Academy’s annual Spring Show, featured products donated by prominent San Francisco brands including Levis, UNIQLO and Banana Republic which were then  customized by Design, Textile and Merchandising students. These one of a kind creations were on sale alongside current collections from Academy of Art University School of Fashion alumni Mansoor Scott, Frida Salvador and Tommy Pham. BFA Product Development classes also created additional unique items including safety pin jewelry, fortune cookies with KidRobot toys and custom tote bags to build an eclectic assortment of merchandise.

Simon Ungless named Executive Director of the School of Fashion

Simon Ungless, shot by Isabella Bejarano.

On August 1, 2014, Academy of Art University announced the appointment of Simon Ungless as Executive Director of the School of Fashion. Gladys Perint Palmer, who led the School of Fashion for 20 years, assumed the role of Executive Vice President of Artistic Development as well joined the Academy of Art University Advisory Board.

Academy of Art University Launches 180 Magazine Issue Seven

Cover shot by Isabella Bejarano.

In October 2014, Academy of Art University  launched the seventh issue of 180 Magazine. Produced by and for Academy of Art University students, issue seven of 180 Magazine was the first edition to be made available both in print as well as digitally on iPad.

The 230-page magazine included 21 articles and editorials that highlighted the work of Academy students and alumni. The topics ranged from Architecture students collaborating with a Fashion Merchandising class on a project that focused on “nomadism and identity,” to the profiles on MFA Fashion Design graduates Maria Korovilas, Kara Laricks, and Shoshana Pinedo, which displayed the international nature of the student body.

With the launch of issue seven, the University was pleased to announce the accreditation of the new Jewelry and Metal Design program, the MA and BA Fashion Journalism programs, and the BFA Fashion Styling program. The latter being the first accredited Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Styling in the United States.

Spring 2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center

Photo by Jeanette Peach.

On Saturday, September 6, 2014 12 designers from the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University were lucky enough to see their work appear at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Since 2005, the School of Fashion has premiered the collections of students and recent graduates during New York Fashion Week. For the Spring 2015 season, 12 designers presented six collections; in total, five individual womenswear collections and one collaborative menswear collection were presented.

Shot by John Perez.

Just a few hours before the Academy’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week show, the School of Fashion held their very first fashion symposium at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Keanan Duffty, Senior Director of Fashion Merchandising, talked with internationally renowned fashion photographer Nigel Barker to share both of their valuable insights and experiences in the fashion industry.

Supima runway shot by Ze Takahasi and Olivier Claisse/FirstView.

During fashion week Supima, a non-profit organization, held its annual Supima Design Competition dedicated to promoting the use of Pima cotton. Committed to giving young talent a chance to show their work on the runway, Supima chose six senior college students to create collections and compete at a runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. From Academy of Art University, Jenny Hoang, BFA Fashion Design alumna, was selected to create a collection and compete for the $10,000 prize. Raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Oregon, Hoang is a former CFDA Award winner. She presented unique pieces which she describes as “feminine yet powerful and fierce.”

Joe Zee Visits The Academy of Art University School of Fashion

Photo by Bob Toy

On Wednesday, September 24, 2014, Joe Zee, newly appointed Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo! Style led a discussion at the Academy of Art University with Simon Ungless, Executive Director of the School of Fashion, members of the press and about 75 Fashion Journalism and Styling students. Zee chatted with students about the progression of his career, shared tips for industry success, and  talked about the ways in which the digital age are changing journalism for good.

Academy of Art University Graduation Fashion Show Named in BizBash’s First Top 100 San Francisco Event List

School of Fashion’s Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony. Photo by Randy Brooke.

On November 11, 2014, the Academy of Art University School of Fashion Graduation Fashion Show was  named as the No. 1 San Francisco Fashion Industry Event in BizBash’s inaugural Top 100 list of Annual Events in San Francisco. BizBash’s widely renowned Top 100 list includes annual events that are evaluated based on economic impact, buzz, innovation, and the event’s prominence within the communities it intends to serve.

Academy of Art University Announces National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) Accreditation for MFA and BFA Costume Design

Wooden Dresses, by Liina Gruener & Marjorie Cox, in World of Wearable Art

On November 24, 2014, Academy of Art University announced that it had received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) for MFA and BFA Costume Design degrees. The Costume Design program will be housed in the School of Fashion and led by Costume Design Program Coordinator Margaret Whitaker. School of Fashion Executive Director Simon Ungless will oversee the program. Students in the Costume Design program will benefit not only from the rigorous garment construction techniques taught in the School of Fashion, but also from practical experience gained through collaboration with both the School of Motion Pictures & Television and the School of Acting.

Academy of Art University School of Fashion Opens SHOP657, a retail boutique in San Francisco’s historic Union Square

On Friday, December 5, 2014, Academy of Art University opened SHOP657, a permanent, not-for-profit retail space created and curated by Academy of Art University School of Fashion Merchandising students. SHOP657  sells one-of-a-kind clothing, shoes, accessories and decorative lifestyle items designed by School of Fashion students and alumni.

Photo by Bob Toy.

The 1,500-square-foot store is located at 657 Sutter Street near the historic Union Square shopping district in downtown San Francisco. Academy of Art University merchandising students, who  also  operating the store,  transformed the space that formerly housed Marty’s Liquor & Gourmet. With items ranging from $50 to $800, the shop features products from alumni brands, including Mansoor Scott, San Francycle, VOIDTHEBRAND, Rinat Brodach, Freda Salvador, Mute by Joanne Lu, Apartment 415, Golden Pony Workshop, Gazel, Konstantina Tzovolou and NINETWENTYFIVE.

Photo by Bob Toy.

Additionally, the store provides hands-on merchandising experience for School of Fashion Merchandising students. As part of their semester coursework, BFA Merchandising Product Development students create a collection of gift items and accessories, from which BFA Merchandising Buying classes select products to be sold at the store. Merchandising Product Development and Merchandising Buying students then collaborate to set pricing and determine marketing strategy for these items. And beginning Spring 2015, merchandising students will have the opportunity to complete for-credit internships working at the retail space.

Stay tuned to read about all of the great things  School of Fashion students are sure to do in 2015. Happy New Year!

Christian Willman’s sketch of lineup.

Inspired by the work of Matt Calderwood, an installation artist from Northern Ireland, MFA Fashion Design student Christian Willman has created a Fall 2015 collection that examines the relationship between power and strength. Playing on friction and gravity through the use of wool, eco-wool and cotton, Christian’s collection is both structured and minimalistic.

Christian Willman, photo by Bob Toy.

Christian Willman is a top-notch student as well as designer. She received highest honors when she graduated with her BFA in Fine Arts from Angelo State University and is maintaining that same academic excellence at Academy of Art University. Christian was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and has taken on many challenging internships, including one for Christian Dior.

Inspiration from Christian Willman’s collection.

This Fashion Design student seems determined to be at the top of her game in everything she does, so it seems only fitting that she will show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, one of the most covetable opportunities for any fashion designer. Take a moment to get to know Christian a little bit better with us here at FSD.

Fashion School Daily: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Christian Willman: Work hard and be yourself. Under these two principles the right people will find their way into your life.

 FSD: What is your favorite memory of being in the School of Fashion?

CW: I enjoyed interacting with people from so many diverse backgrounds.

 FSD: What advice would you give students who want to do collection?

CW: “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” – Benjamin Franklin

Inspiration from Christian Willman’s collection.

 FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item of clothing / bag / designer would you buy right now?

CW: A perfectly fitting pair of jeans, or in that case, several pairs.

 FSD: What is your greatest style regret?

CW: I spent too many years with untamed curly hair.

 FSD: Which items in your closet do you most use?

CW: I love scarves worn as a statement accessory.

 FSD: What is your style motto?

CW: Learn the story behind the clothing.

 FSD: Who are your favorite fashion icons and why?

CW: I respect the work of Hussein Chalayan because of his visionary ideas about the relationship between garments and the body.

 By Tess Collins

Danielle Colen graduated from the Academy of Art University School of Fashion with a MFA in Fashion Design in December of 2012. The patternmaker and designer has since then founded the womenswear line WALTZ in San Francisco. The line is about ease, comfort and restraint with an emphasis on high quality fabrics, construction and tailoring. It’s easy for us to say that WALTZ is 100% chic and 110% fabulous.

WALTZ collection from waltzstudio.com

WALTZ collection from waltzstudio.com

Fashion School Daily: Tell us about what you have been doing since graduation? Tell us about Waltz!

Danielle Colen: I have been in San Francisco since graduation and have no plans of leaving!  Right after graduating, I went to work as a patternmaker and sample sewer for an interdisciplinary creative studio called Small Trade Company.  I worked on our in-house line of apparel, aprons and bags, as well as commissioned projects ranging from hotel and restaurant uniforms to home furnishings and custom apparel.  The company sources beautiful and rare textiles from Asia and other parts of the world, so I was able to see and learn a great deal about textiles from around the globe. I left Small Trade in June 2014 to focus exclusively on building my own womenswear line, called WALTZ, which launched this past September for SS15.  The line is made up of minimal wardrobe staples.  WALTZ aims to create classic, timeless pieces that will be the foundation of a woman’s streamlined wardrobe. Everything is manufactured in the USA.

WALTZ collection from waltzstudio.com

FSD: Where do you find inspiration?

DC: I look at a lot of art, design, and fashion blogs and collect a lot of images.  A few of my go-to blogs are I’m Revolting, A Drawing Diary, Death by Elocution, and Beatpie.  Usually there isn’t a direct link between the images I collect and my work, but I’m sure they are inspiring me subconsciously, particularly in terms of color direction.  I approach designing from more of a practical standpoint.  I am my own target customer so I start by thinking about the foundational pieces that are missing from my own wardrobe, say the perfect relaxed trench coat.  I then spend time gathering images of other trench coats that are out there, both current and vintage, and try to come up with my own version.  Usually this involves removing elements and pairing down to the essentials.

FSD: What are your plans for the future?

DC: My plans for the future are to keep growing WALTZ.  My first collection will be carried at a few bay area stores starting this spring including Mill Mercantile, Voyager and Beklina. I’d like to broaden the reach for FW15 and work with stores in other cities across the country.  I also plan to launch e-commerce on my website www.waltzstudio.com this spring.

WALTZ collection from waltzstudio.com

FSD: What advice would you give to current students?

DC: Figure out who you are as a designer, and make sure you leave with a portfolio that speaks to you and your strengths.  If you aren’t a high-fashion runway designer, don’t try to push yourself to be one.  It will only cause heartache.  There is room in the world for all kinds of designers.

I worked with a lot of great AAU alumni to get my first collection off the ground and I’d love to mention them and thank them here! Tanja Milutinovic (MFA textile design) and I collaborated on the prints for SS15; Aldo Carrera (BFA photography) shot the lookbook; Jisun Lee (MFA Fashion Design) helped me sew the samples; and Ana Clara Backes Martin (MFA Fashion Design) was my fairy godmother and helped me with pretty much everything.  So be kind to your classmates!  They may end up being your collaborators even after school.

Also, I would love to hear from any design or marketing students interested in interning at WALTZ.  I can be reached through my website www.waltzstudio.com.

For more information about Waltz please email info@waltzstudio.com.

Photos by Aldo Carrera

Sketch of Xiaowei Liu’s collection.

MFA Fashion Design Xiaowei Liu has been passionate about design her whole life. Born and raised in Wuhan, China, Xiaowei graduated from the Hubei Institute of Fine Arts and worked as a Fashion Design Assistant and a Drawing Assistant before coming to The Academy of Art University.

Xiaowei Liu, photo by Bob Toy.

Xiaowei has always had a gift for color and cloth structure; which can clearly be seen in her collection for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Using a combination of denim, cotton and leather, Xiaowei’s inspiration behind her collection is Boro, which is a kind of indigo patchwork seen in Japanese culture. Her collection is comprised entirely of indigo fabrics that she dyed herself. The basic silhouette is a bomber jacket paired with Xiaowei’s blue color scheme. The collection creates a pure and fun spirit. Her designs take denim from basic to high fashion.

Read more about this talented designer and what she had to say to Fashion School Daily.

Inspiration board.

Fashion School Daily: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Xiaowei Liu: Do your best and never give up.

 FSD: What is your favorite memory of being in the School of Fashion?

XL: Students working together in the lab, sharing in the work and the experience.

FSD: What advice would you give students who want to do collection?

XL: Choose something you really like to do and you will fall in love with your designs.

Inspiration board.

 FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item of clothing / bag / designer would you buy right now?

XL: Comme des Garcon jacket.

 FSD: Which items in your closet do you most use?

XL: A black leather jacket and motorcycle vest.

FSD: What is your style motto?

XL: Dress in a different style every day.

FSD: Which talent would you most like to have?

XL: I think I would choose time management so that I can have a clear plan or schedule for my work.

 Who are your favorite fashion icons and why?

XL: I would pick Simon Porte Jacquemus, because he is simple and chic.

By Tess Collins

Sketch of Ozanhan Kayaoglu’s lineup.

Ozanhan Kayaoglu, MFA Fashion Design, credits the French philosopher Michel Foucault’s description of power as the inspiration behind his collection. Foucault said, “Power is everywhere,” and described power and social order through examples of architecture in a Panopticion prison. Ozanhan researched the prison and was immediately drawn to the rusty metal pieces located inside. His inspiration can be seen directly on the runway—Ozanhan actually used rusty metal to dye the fabric! His collection features a metallic color scheme that is showcased through a variety of fabrics including thick wool, lightweight wool, and canvas.

Ozanhan Kayaoglu, photo by Bob Toy.

Ozanhan’s background has shaped who he is as a designer; his real life struggles can be seen through his designs. Born in Eskisehir, Turkey, Ozanhan would later move to Istanbul where his outlook on life would change forever. He was exposed to a better quality of life, which inspired him to dream bigger than he had ever allowed himself to dream before. Ozanhan Kayaolgu had been exposed to many dark things before entering college at 23. Serving a year and a half in the military during the Iraq War, he was constantly afraid for his life. He promised himself “If I survive, I will create a better future for myself.”

Sketch of Ozanhan Kayaoglu’s lineup.

He definitely kept the promise he made to himself and attended universities in both Paris (EnsAD) and Brussels (L’Ecole de la Cambre) where he studied Textile Design. He had learned so much, but craved even more knowledge so he traveled to Antwerp looking for an internship. Ozanhan found a spot working with Daniel Andresen at a small menswear fashion house, where he created over 600 pieces for runway shows. Among other impressive skills, Ozanhan Kayaoglu has created a weaving technique that was patented in both Europe and Turkey.

Ozanhan Kayaoglu has done so much as a designer and now he’s about to conquer one of fashion’s biggest stages: New York Fashion Week.

Fashion School Daily: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Ozanhan Kayaoglu: Whatever you do, do your best!

 FSD: What is your favorite memory of being in the School of Fashion?

OK: Designing my first coat in the 3D design class. It was great to see how my design came out as a wearable piece.

Fabric from Ozanhan Kayaoglu’s collection.

FSD: What advice would you give students who want to do collection?

OK: Work hard, listen well and do not forget what you learned at the Academy.

FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item of clothing / bag / designer would you buy right now?

OK: I don’t like to shop too much. I would like to buy a pair of New Balance sneakers; they would be comfortable while I am doing my collection.

FSD: What is your greatest style regret?

OK: Once I dyed my hair a black color. However, I have light skin and it was funny to look at myself on the mirror. Immediately, I went to a barber to have my hair cut very short. It looked very nice! I haven’t grown my hair long since that time. I realized that short hair is the best for me!

FSD: Which items in your closet do you most use?

OK: Jeans and t-shirts.

Inspiration board Ozanhan Kayaoglu’s collection.

FSD: What is your style motto?

OK: Old and cool.

FSD: Who are your favorite fashion icons and why?

OK: Tom Ford for his success, Karl Lagerfeld for his talent and Alexander McQueen for his philosophy.

By Tess Collins

Illustrated lineup of the collection by Emmanuelle Ciara Jones and Ghazaleh Khalifeh.

Emmanuelle Ciara Jones, MFA Fashion Design, and Ghazaleh Khalifeh, MFA Textile Design, are set to present a collaborative Fall 2015 collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this February. Michel Basquiat and the Egungun Secret Society of Africa served as inspiration for this colorful runway collection. The silhouettes are heavily influenced by hip-hop street culture, with many baggy, layered pieces. The printed cotton textiles are evocative of traditional African patterns. Working with Emmanuelle’s  inspiration of African textiles and Voodoo, Ghazaleh complemented that in her textiles by incorporating elements of the culture, spirit and graffiti in New York’s Lower East Side in the early 1980s.

This juxtaposition between traditional and contemporary creates an edgy street wear collection that will make spectators in the front row want to dance!

Emmanuelle Ciara Jones, photo by Bob Toy.

Emmanuelle Ciara Jones was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. Before coming to Academy of Art University to pursue her graduate degree in fashion design, Emmanuelle attended Memphis College of Art in 2010, where she received her BFA in Painting.

Ghazaleh Khalifeh, photo by Bob Toy.

Ghazaleh Khalifeh, a Bay Area native who hails from Marin County, has been at the Academy for both her undergraduate and graduate education. Ghazaleh’s work began receiving accolades in her undergraduate years; 2008 Ghazaleh won the prestigious $25,000 Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship Award, and in 2009 she was selected to participate in the French Exchange Program at L’ecole de La Chambre Sydicale de la Couture Parisienne. During her time as an undergrad in the Fashion Design program Ghazaleh also had the opportunity to show at the University’s 2010 May Graduation Fashion Show in San Francisco and was chosen to intern with Diane Von Furstenberg. Additionally, her time as a graduate student has also given Ghazaleh the opportunity to show on the runway—her collaborative collection also showed at the University’s 2014 May Graduation Fashion Show.

Textiles by Ghazaleh Khalifeh

These two talented designers are sure to impress at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Read on to get to know them better and find out what makes them tick!

Fashion School Daily: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Emmanuelle Ciara Jones: The best advice I have received is to remain humble and always remain true to your artistic vision and quirkiness.

Ghazaleh Khalifeh: Honor your truth; that would have to be one of the best pieces of wisdom I’ve been blessed to receive.

FSD: What is your favorite memory of being in the School of Fashion?

GK: Learning, making and evolving in the textile and knitwear labs. Meeting some incredible individuals.

FSD: What advice would you give students who want to do collection?

ECJ: Do not stress out, it is just a collection! When you stay clam, grounded and focus it will all fall into place. Oh, and always remember to stop and laugh. It helps!

FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item of clothing / bag / designer would you buy right now?

ECJ: I would pick Timberland boots because it means something different in Hip Hop culture than it does to the rest of the world. It symbolizes masculinity, but when a woman puts them on, it feels like she’s walking in guy’s shoes but edgier.

GK: Traditionally woven textiles from Iran, the country of my heritage.

FSD: What is your greatest style regret?

ECJ: Wearing dark lip liner with lip-gloss. What was I thinking when I did that in high school? I wanted to fit in I guess…

GK: Inhibition.

FSD: Which items in your closet do you most use?

ECJ: My Beetles tank top from H&M. It’s my favorite top to wear and to sleep in.  

GK: Rosewater perfume.

FSD: What is your style motto?

GK: Sensuality.

FSD: Who are your favorite fashion icons?

ECJ: My favorite fashion icons are Lena Horne, Erykah Badu and Elsa Shiaparelli.

Keep following Emmanuelle Ciara Jones and Ghazaleh Khalifeh as they continue their journey towards New York Fashion Week!

By Tess Collins, MFA Fashion Journalism

Christian Willman’s sketch of lineup.

Inspired by the work of Matt Calderwood, an installation artist from Northern Ireland, MFA Fashion Design student Christian Willman has created a Fall 2015 collection that examines the relationship between power and strength. Playing on friction and gravity through the use of wool, eco-wool and cotton, Christian’s collection is both structured and minimalistic.

Christian Willman, photo by Bob Toy.

Christian Willman is a top-notch student as well as designer. She received highest honors when she graduated with her BFA in Fine Arts from Angelo State University and is maintaining that same academic excellence at Academy of Art University. Christian was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and has taken on many challenging internships, including one for Christian Dior.

Inspiration from Christian Willman’s collection.

This Fashion Design student seems determined to be at the top of her game in everything she does, so it seems only fitting that she will show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, one of the most covetable opportunities for any fashion designer. Take a moment to get to know Christian a little bit better with us here at FSD.

Fashion School Daily: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Christian Willman: Work hard and be yourself. Under these two principles the right people will find their way into your life.

FSD: What is your favorite memory of being in the School of Fashion?

CW: I enjoyed interacting with people from so many diverse backgrounds.

FSD: What advice would you give students who want to do collection?

CW: “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” – Benjamin Franklin

Inspiration from Christian Willman’s collection.

FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item of clothing / bag / designer would you buy right now?

CW: A perfectly fitting pair of jeans, or in that case, several pairs.

FSD: What is your greatest style regret?

CW: I spent too many years with untamed curly hair.

FSD: Which items in your closet do you most use?

CW: I love scarves worn as a statement accessory.

FSD: What is your style motto?

CW: Learn the story behind the clothing.

FSD: Who are your favorite fashion icons and why?

CW: I respect the work of Hussein Chalayan because of his visionary ideas about the relationship between garments and the body.

 By Tess Collins

Photo of Pinar Badur

Pinar Badur, 2007 MFA Fashion Merchandising, now has her own company, Gazel. Gazel is a family run company that sells handmade, unique gifts. Pinar Badur’s passion has always been jewelry and she has turned this passion into a reality by selling handmade jewelry and accessories. Among other places, Pinar’s unique, one-of-a-kind pieces can be found at the School of Fashion’s retail store, SHOP657. Pinar Badur tells Fashion School Daily about what’s next for her and her company and chats about the biggest challenges she has faced as a jewelry designer.

Pinar Badur’s Jewelry

Tess Collins: What was your favorite memory or piece of advice from Academy of Art University?

Pinar Badur: Know your target market and know your numbers!

TC: What was it like for you to enter the work world after graduation?

PB: Since I was an international student, it was very hard for me to find a company that would agree to sponsor me. I worked as long as my visa allowed me to.

Pinar Badur’s Jewelry

TC: How did you get your brand off the ground?

PB: My first attempt with Gazel was in 2010. We originally started as an organic bath product company and built a reputation in our field as well as in the organic world. However my passion has always been jewelry, so I decided to follow my dream and turn Gazel into a handmade jewelry and accessories company. I started my new journey last Christmas. I’ve been in jewelry business officially for a year now and I love it!

TC:What are the biggest challenges you faced?

PB: The jewelry market is very saturated. The biggest challenge I have faced has been trying to break in and get noticed. One specific challenge that I have had is I thought that when I took products as consignment to the boutiques they would all jump on the offer. However that definitely has not been the case. It took a lot of emailing and calling to get one single boutique to bring in the products.

Pinar Badur’s Jewelry

TC: When did you feel like you had made it? Have you felt that way yet?

PB: I don’t feel that way yet. My business is still very young and there are still a lot of areas for me to discover.

TC: What’s next for you?

PB: My next step is exhibiting at a trade show. I’ve recently applied for NY Now. If we can get into this show, I’m confident that it will open new doors for my company.

TC: Where else are your products available for purchase?

Pinar Badur’s Jewelry

PB: In San Francisco, We are selling in My Roommate’s Closet, Picnic, Storenvy, Covet Union, Covet Sunset, William the Bee and of course SHOP657!

Be sure to check out Pinar Badur’s one of a kind jewelry at SHOP657!

By Tess Collins

From left to right: Senior Director of Fashion Merchandising Keanan Duffty, Celina Enriquez, Michelle Hendrawan, Martin Evensen, and Busara Boussard. Photo courtesy of YMA-FSF.

On January 7th, four School of Fashion Merchandising students were honored at the annual YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards Dinner at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel. Fashion Merchandising BFA students Martin Evensen, Michelle Hendrawan, and Celina Enriquez along with Fashion Design BFA student Busara Boussard were each selected by the YMA FSF Scholarship Committee to receive $5,000 scholarships.

Students from more than 150 colleges across the country flocked to New York to accept their awards. Former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera presented five lucky students with $10,000 scholarships and handed out $30,000 scholarship awards to four other exceptional students.

Photo courtesy of YMA-FSF.

The event also honored industry heavyweights Chip Bergh, CEO of Levi Strauss & Co.; Doug Ewert, CEO of Men’s Wearhouse; designers Isabel and Rubin Toledo, and Iris Apfel. Also on hand were presenters Patti LaBell, Countess Luann de Lesseps, Joseph Abboud, and Rosanna Scott. The event raised a record-breaking $3.4 million for the YMA Fashion Scholarship fund.

A packed house looked on as students accepted their awards. Photo courtesy of YMA-FSF.

The awards dinner was a huge milestone for the scholarship winners, and gave many their first opportunity to visit New York. Academy of Art University’s Celina Enriquez was one such student, and she has shared her diary of her first New York experience with FSD. Learn a little bit more about Celina here, and stay tuned for installments of her NYC diary!

Fashion School Daily: What did you submit for consideration to the YMA FSF?

Celina Enriquez: I submitted a Lululemon case study, which was the nationwide theme set forth by YMA FSF.

FSD: Have you ever won any other awards?

CE: I have not won any other awards! I often joke that I never win anything I enter. Thankfully, I can no longer say that!

FSD: What will you do differently now that you’ve won? 
CE: Winning the scholarship has, in a sense, validated the work that I’ve done so far. I have always worked hard on my schoolwork, and winning a talent-based scholarship has given me the encouragement to keep going and to keep doing what I love to do… because it is all worth it.

FSD: How did you get started in fashion? 
CE: I have always loved the idea of aesthetic and how different things, different colors, and different aesthetics appeal to different people. I started to be conscious of aesthetic in fashion in high school and was very fortunate to go to a school where difference was celebrated. I began to love the idea of working in the fashion industry where things are always changing and evolving.

FSD: What is your ultimate career goal?

CE: My ultimate goal is to be in buying – to be part of team that directly relays a brand’s identity and does so in a conscious way. I’d love to be part of a company that moves forward in giving back and staying conscious of how its garments and products are made.

Check back on Wednesday, January 21 for the first installment of Celina’s NYC diary!

Sketch of Tam Nguyen and Han Tang’s collection.

This collaborative collection from MFA Textile Design student Tam Nguyen and MFA Fashion Design student Han Tang explores the beauty behind mold and peeling paint and examines how the natural weathering of surfaces can inspire the creation of beautifully textured clothing.

Han Tang, photo by Bob Toy.

Han and Tam translate the textural inspiration they found in the environment on to wool and silk. The unique textures of their garments, along with the strong silhouettes behind their designs, will leave a lasting impression on the audience and may even have some taking a second look the next time they see texture in nature.

Tam Nguyen, photo by Bob Toy.

Tam Nguyen, born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Hang Tang, who grew up in Beijing, China, each boast diverse backgrounds. Tam Nguyen has a BFA in Fashion Design from Columbia University, has worked as a visual merchandiser and frequently does freelance textile work. Hang Tang has a BFA in Interactive Media Design from Jilin College and has worked as a children’s book illustrator.

Inspiration photo.

These two designers, each with their own unique experiences and expertise from which to draw, have created a collaborative collection that shows how deconstructive surfaces can lend the inspiration for a bold fashion statement.

Fashion School Daily: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Tam Nguyen: Don’t be afraid of trying new things, either it will work out or it won’t. You will learn something in order to approach a better solution and new idea.

Han Tang: Don’t wait for the right moment to come in the distant future for you to release your full potential and become what you always wanted to be. Take action now, make mistakes and learn from them!

 FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item of clothing / bag / designer would you buy right now?

TN: 2013 Retro Adidas Stan Smith sneakers in white and green.

HT: I want lots! Rick Owen’s jacket, Celine Bags, Stella McCartney’s shirts. . .

Inspiration Photo.

FSD: Which items in your closet do you most use?

TN: Waterproof biker jacket.

HT: My black jacket. When I open my closet it’s all black!

 FSD: Which talent would you most like to have?

TN: Being able to play musical instruments, like piano or guitar.

HT: I want to be able to do pattern making and sew garments faster and faster!

By Tess Collins

I had never been to New York City. I always said “Oh, I’m going to go someday soon, I’m sure.” But I never thought “soon” would be three weeks after finding out I had won the YMA FSF Scholarship! There is nothing better than ending the year winning a scholarship and beginning 2015 with a trip to NYC. Happy New Year, indeed!

Here is a little bit of my NYC adventure…I hope it inspires those of you who haven’t yet ventured to the Big Apple to check it out. I bet you’ll fall in love just like I did!

Tuesday, January 6^th:

After a five and a half hour flight, I landed at JFK airport at around 4:30 PM. I gathered up my luggage thinking I’d mentally prepared myself for the 23-degree weather I was about to face. Well, I stepped out of the terminal doors and went right back in. Nothing— I repeat, nothing— prepares a West Coast dweller for the cold! It is winter in NYC after all…so I channeled my excitement to experience a “real” winter— layers, scarves, gloves, and all— and walked out to face the cold and explore a new city.

Upon checking in at the Doubletree Inn in Manhattan (it’s located across the street from the Waldorf Astoria, where the YMA FSF award dinner was held), I put on what felt like 65 layers of clothing and 12 accessories in preparation for heading back outside. Ok… I put on five layers, gloves, scarf and a beanie. Sufficiently bundled, I headed out to my first destination: Rockefeller Center.

It was a no-brainer to pick my first stop in the big city. I knew they were taking the tree down soon and the holidays are my favorite time of the year, so Rockefeller Center was a must-see. The majestic tree didn’t disappoint!

After I finished at Rockefeller Center, I explored a few blocks in midtown Manhattan. I turned a corner and suddenly was struck by all the tall buildings. Right then and there, I fell in love with New York. It is magical.

I headed down to Union Square to meet with Senior Director of Fashion Merchandising Keanan Duffty and my fellow classmates and YMA FSF scholarship winners Michelle Hendrawan, Martin Evensen, and Busara Boussard for dinner. Keanan not only took us out for dinner our first night there, but also showed us around the Union Square area and gave us suggestions on what to visit and see while in NYC! He showed us a wonderful bookstore (Strands– you must go!) and helped me find a Walgreens so I could buy a toothbrush, as I’d left mine at home, of course. Thanks Keanan! We all took the subway back and went back to our hotels… we had a big day ahead of us in the morning!

By Celina Enriquez, BFA Fashion Merchandising

Paulina Susana Romero Valdez. Photo by Bob Toy

To say Paulina Susana Romero Valdez, MFA Fashion Design, put a lot of thought into her Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week collection would be an understatement. Her collection, “It’s Only Heritage,” has Paulina examining where she came from and how that has influenced her as a designer. The central concept around which the collection is built is an examination of the fluidity of life and family, looking at your current position in life through the eyes of ancestors, and visualizing how cultural roots lead us each in our future lives.

Illustrated lineup by Paulina Susana Romero Valdez.

Paulina’s collection takes viewers through the phases of her own life as a person and a designer, progressing from her childhood culture through her present life. The collection represents three stages: The Baroque, The Mexican and The Strong.

Some of Paulina’s inspiration.

Some of Paulina’s inspiration.

The Baroque stage comes from Paulina looking through her mother’s eyes, and her exposure to Baroque art when she was a child. The Mexican stage is represented with traditional Mexican embroidery that is used throughout the collection, which signifies her cultural heritage. The third stage, The Strong, brings the whole collection together with the designer’s acceptance everything in life, good and bad, meets in the end.

Embroidery process.

The thought behind this collection is complex, but enjoying the beautiful clothing is no work at all! Paulina, who was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and grew up in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, proves she is a star on the rise. She will surely dazzle the crowd with her presentation of well thought out silhouettes with eye-grabbing traditional embroidery popping out from wool brocade, herringbone and leather.

Fashion School Daily: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Paulina Susana Romero Valdez: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”- Norman Vincent Peale

FSD: What is your favorite memory of being in the School of Fashion?

PSRV: You have to be constantly on. In this school I am pushed to do more, work harder, aspire, innovate, make mistakes and learn from them. it is the memory of being the best I can be.

FSD: What advice would you give students who want to do collection?

PSRV: Expect the unexpected. You are never finished. Always create, search and experiment more than what is expected of you.

FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item of clothing / bag / designer would you buy right now?

PSRV: A Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014-2015 Valentino Dress

FSD: What is your greatest style regret?

PSRV: Wearing denim pants and circle skirt.

FSD: Which items in your closet do you most use?

PSRV: Skinny black jeans, jersey top, knit sweater and leather ankle boots.

FSD: What is your style motto?

PSRV: Feel beautiful, think beautiful, because you are.

FSD: Which talent would you most like to have?

PSRV: To be able to play music, to be able to play the piano like my mother.

FSD: Who are your favorite fashion icons and why?

PSRV: First, Valentino, for textile manipulation. Also Balmain, for the use of silhouette, color coordinating and textile development, and finally Charles James, for the way he molded shapes into modern clothing.

Illustrated lineup by Paulina Susana Romero Valdez.

By Tess Collins

Wednesday, January 7^th:

9 AM
Busara and I arrived (okay, we got lost taking the subway and arrived a few minutes late) at the Kohl’s Open House at their design office. The YMA scholars received an invitation to attend, and I was so glad that I did! It was a great opportunity to hear firsthand from people in technical design and product managing about what they do on a “normal day.” Students: if you ever win and get to go to New York for the YMA FSF, I highly suggest you go to open houses! It gave me a different perspective about a brand that I didn’t know much about. Plus, Kohls’ NYC office looks like a fantastic place to work with clothes upon clothes everywhere!

Keanan Duffty, Busara Boussard, Doug Evans and Martin Evensen, pictured at the YMA FSF Award Dinner. Photo courtesy of YMA FSF.

12 PM
Busara, Michelle, and I met Doug Evans, the Executive Director of YMA FSF. Doug was assigned as our mentor and although we had previously interviewed with him over Skype it was a pleasure to meet him in person. Doug is a mentor only to the Academy students who won the YMA scholarship, and we are SO, so very lucky to have him!

Doug gave us a lot of advice as well as reassurance concerning the YMA awards dinner that very same night. It didn’t really dawn on me what a big deal this dinner was until we had lunch with Doug and he told us that there were 1,300 people attending and supporting this organization. He gave us guidance on how to properly network with the numerous executives in attendance and he helped us feel a little less overwhelmed at the gravity of it all.

The best point he made during our lunch was when he told us, “You deserve to be here, remember that. You deserve to be at that dinner because you won. I love AAU and I loved interviewing you guys, but I’m not a judge. You didn’t win because I like you. You won because you have the talent and you should know that. Be proud of yourselves.”

I should mention that Doug also told us that they had raised $3.4 million for future scholarships from this event! How incredible is that?! I’m so thankful that so many are willing to support the future of this industry and are willing to help us get closer to our own dreams.

3 PM
We all met Keanan at the Waldorf Astoria to get checked in, go through dress rehearsal, and of course take numerous selfies. While the coordinator was going over the logistics of the night, a man went around the room handing out something from a plastic bag… I’m thinking, “This must be a sample of something, ok sure, why not.” No sample— we were all given $100 gift cards to Levi’s! If that’s not a sign of a great night ahead, I don’t know what is.

After dress rehearsal were two cocktail receptions (one was VIP) – just imagine being in a room full of really successful people and that these people are here for you. I won’t lie, it was quite intimidating at first, but if you have your mentor or your educator (in our case, Keanan) with you, they usually don’t leave you hanging and they make every effort to connect you to some of the key people who are there to make things happen for you.

7:24 PM
Yes, that exact time was when we had to come down to line up to be introduced. They served us salad and we (thankfully) were able to sit down for a little while and get to know the other students at our table.

Academy of Art University starts with an “A,” so guess who was first on the lineup to walk across the stage and be honored? Yep, we were! It was kind of like a dream to walk across the stage at the Waldorf in front of more than 1,100 people who support what you do. I made sure to momentarily stop and fully face the crowd just to get a snapshot in my head of what it all looked like.

8 PM
The program started with the recognition of the scholars, of the YMA directors, and of course all the companies who donated generously to such a great organization. I won’t bore you with the details of the program but some of the speakers and honorees were: Doug Evans (YMA Executive Director), Chip Bergh (CEO of Levi’s), Isabel and Ruben Toledo, Iris Apfel, Doug Ewert (CEO of Men’s Wearhouse), Mariano Rivera (of the Yankees), and Patti Labelle.

Vera Wang was in the crowd too! It was such an honor to be in a room full of people who recognize where life can take you if you work hard and stay inspired. I really can’t put into words how inspiring it was to have every speaker direct their words to us – it was great encouragement to keep learning, to stay humble, and to keep dreaming and wanting more.

The awards dinner at the Waldorf Astoria was a magical night. I’m insanely glad I got to enjoy it with such great people – Michelle, Martin, Busara, and of course, Keanan!

By Celina Enriquez, BFA Fashion Merchandising

Preview of Xue Yang and Oom Terdpravat’s collection.

Xue Yang, MFA Fashion Design, and Oom Terdpravat, MFA Fashion Design and Textile Design, will present a collaborative collection at New York Fashion Week that has all the beauty and hope of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

Xue Yang, photo by Bob Toy.

Xue Yang was born and raised in Jilin, China. It’s not surprising that she was inspired by vintage Chinese fabric. The vintage fabric not only serves as inspiration, but is also used as a main textile throughout the collection. Notable is the unique sleeve design featured in the collection, which has been coined as “the attitude.” Xue believes that clothing has the power to change how people move and act. By creating a dramatic sleeve, she hopes to create a change in the wearer’s attitude. The cocoon shape is used in the collection to represent the restrictive practice, such as foot binding practiced by Chinese women. Before coming to Academy of Art University, Xue attended the Beijing Film Academy. After attending the Film Academy she served as Assistant Costume Designer for the film Buddha Mountain, which won the Best Picture in Tokyo movie Festival in 2010.

Textile image.

Oom Terdpravat, a Bangkok, Thailand native, is highly gifted in textiles. She was named a “Super Intern” during her recent internship stint at BCBG Max Azria. During her time with BCBG, she developed embroidery for the runway collection and textile burnout for the main line. Oom designed the textile fabric for the collaborative collection with Xue. The textiles feature a watercolor palette in deep purples, blues and greens.

Oom Terdpravat, photo by Bob Toy.

The juxtaposition of intricate textiles that blend floral and geometric designs with the strong silhouette of the clothes create a breathtaking collection that shows beauty can break through any boundary.

Get to know these highly accomplished designers by taking a look at what they had to share with Fashion School Daily!

Fashion School Daily: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Xue Yang: Don’t be afraid to try new things, you never know what’s going to happen, and never give up.

Oom Terdpravat: My dad always taught me to do my best.

FSD: What is your favorite memory of being in the School of Fashion?

XY: I had a really bad time at the beginning of school. I didn’t know what fashion was and I had no idea who any famous designers were! I worked hard and started to look through designers work. I finally found my style! I was in a design class and my instructor told me he liked my designs and that they were unique. I was so happy! I will never forget that moment.

OT: Sleepless nights before project presentations, late nights sewing, textile lab studio time and friendship.

Mood board for Xue Yang and Oom Terdpravat’s collection.

FSD: What advice would you give students who want to do a collection?

XY: You need to start early and have a plan first. Search for the fabric as early as you can. When you are doing the collection, you need work very hard and follow the instructor step by step.

OT: Work hard, be flexible, but stay true to what you are passionate about.

FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item of clothing / bag / designer would you buy right now?

XY: I love Givenchy and Alexander McQueen, Alexander Wang’s clothes and Proenza Schouler and Celine bags.

FSD: What is your greatest style regret?

OT: FUBU jeans!

FSD: What is your style motto?

OT: Dark and neutral colors on a regular basis and colors and prints when it’s snowboarding and beach time!

FSD: Which talent would you most like to have?

XY: To never be tired.

OT: Freestyle dancing!

FSD: Who are your favorite fashion icons and why?

XY: John Galliano, because he is so talented and I love each of his collections. Even the homeless give him inspiration and he made that super fashion. He is so creative.

See this collaborative collection through to the end and follow Xue Yang and Oom Terdpravat on their way to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

By Tess Collins