Fashion United July 19, 2019 “Meet Top Talent from CFDA Fashion Future Graduate Showcase 2019: Part 2 ” An interview with Beam Ratchapol Ngaongam from the Academy of Art University, at the CFDA Fashion Future Graduate Showcase. h ps://fashionunited.com/educa on/news/meet-toptalent-from-cfda-fashion-future-graduate-showcasepart-2/2019071929026
Meet Top Talent from CFDA Fashion Future Graduate Showcase 2019: Part 2 Jackie Mallon | Friday, July 19 2019
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In a two-part profile FashionUnited has selected 4 standouts from this year’s CFDA Fashion Future Graduate Showcase which presented to the world 52 graduates from 12 schools across the nation. From a fashion/film collaboration on cultural identity to elevated tailored toiles, from optimism through knitwear to activism through activewear, these are the ones to watch.
Beam Ratchapol Ngaongam, Academy of Art University, San Fransisco What inspired your graduate collection? It originally started with human anatomy. As I was developing the collection, I felt so much stress, depression, and exhaustion that I was amazed how the human body could take all of it because I never thought I would be able to. It’s something that has changed me as a person forever. At some points I missed the old me, the person who smiles and laughs all the time, who was less short-tempered. But my journey as a knitwear designer includes sacrifices. The amount of commitment and work required translated into a collection that symbolizes chaos in its oversized garments and excessive wrapping. A moment of revelation happened when I realized how much the body could handle physically and emotionally. It all started with the fascination of how the human body works and ended up being an exploration of sadness versus beauty and the point where they meet.
What was the most challenging part of its conception or creation? Knitwear itself is already hard to translate from inspiration into 3D due to its characteristic drapery. So I did lots of experimental knitting to find stitches that are both soft and give structure at the same time. Then because we don’t just cut fabric into shapes, I have to do stitch samples, tension samples, toile, calculate the knit into the
shape as a toile. There were lots of mistakes, but the deadline wasn’t changing. A perfect toile doesn’t mean it’s all approved once I knit out everything. I still need to re-drape the knitted pieces to see if it will look how I want it. Unless, I use the actual yarns to knit out out a big piece and make toile out of it but that would be crazy expensive because all my yarns were imported from Italy.
Describe your most memorable goal or achievement from your school career? The whole process of making my senior collection. I didn’t just get a collection out of it, I also got a family. My classmates were always there when I needed. We supported each other and I don’t think I would ever make this collection if it wasn’t for my friends. Also, after all of that hard work and sleepless nights, the moment I walked down the runway was so emotional, because, as I said to myself throughout this process, I will make it through to the end and people will get to see my collection on the runway no matter what.
Which individuals, designers, muses or other figures operating in or around fashion do you currently admire? Spencer Vladimir, Rei Kawakubo, and John Galliano.
What would your ideal next career move be? At the moment, I’m aiming for an assistant knitwear designer job at any company as well as an internship. But I would really like to work with an individual knitwear designer who recently just graduated from college because I think those designers tend to do more creative, experimental stuff compared to a big company. I still want to expand my knowledge and experience with knitwear in every possible way.
What about the current fashion industry excites you? People starting to notice knitwear more. Before, I feel like the only thing people thought of knitwear was a sweater or scarf for winter. But now, it’s everywhere–-shoes, t-shirts, blazers, etc.
What about the current fashion industry concerns you? Social media. With all the technology and power of social media these days, it’s so easy for my work to be spread around which is good because I will be noticed by people from the industry but at the same time it can be bad because people can steal my ideas. Read more here: https://fashionunited.com/education/news/meet-top-talent-fromcfda-fashion-future-graduate-showcase-part-2/2019071929026