In an unprecedented move for the Benefit Fashion Show, which will be held on March 3, commissioners have chosen to include a new theme exclusively for original designs by students. Among the lineup of student designers is senior Katrina Sung, junior Isabelle Rieken and freshman Carminho Moniz.
The designers will be relying on their limited experience in clothing design. Sung’s experience, for example, consists of altering clothes from thrift shops she frequents.
“This is something I’ve never done before and that really excites me because I love experimenting with things and seeing how it goes,” Sung said. “Plus, I’m glad I can finally actively do something about my interests in fashion.”
Sung plans on using unconventional materials like latex in her designs as she tends to “take chances” with her artwork. She finds inspiration among social media accounts that document and follow runway shows, most notably the Instagram account “hypebeaststyle,” which showcases punk style clothing.
Like Sung, Rieken draws inspiration from runway shows, admiring the unique colors and silhouettes that can’t be found in typical streetwear.
“Runway fashion focuses on odd shapes that hide the human figure, which interests me since fashion is generally thought of as a thing to highlight the human form,” Rieken said. “I’m inspired by certain designers such as [Japanese Fashion Designer] Comme de Garcons.”
Rieken has been sewing since elementary school and has recently begun to make clothing for herself. Finding opportunities to showcase her work have been difficult to come by, and the Benefit Fashion Show provides the perfect platform for her to design and also work on her art portfolio for college applications.
On the other hand, Moniz says she develops most of her design ideas through her own doodles.
“For me, the main challenge of designing your own clothes is thinking about whether you want to follow an existing trend or try to set a new one,” Moniz said.
Yet planning the design is just one part of the process. Before creating the clothes, designers need to get measurements from their models as well as contact them for approval of the outfit idea. Limitations in materials often set back the planning process as designers may not be able to pursue more ambitious design ideas.
“I have all my models’ measurements, and I have all my drawings planned out,” Sung said. “I just have to buy the material and start making it now. But I think I have available resources to make [the clothes]. You just have to figure out what works along the way.”