Spark Magazine – Senior Design 2018: Dimension

AIDEN PARK Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor CAROLINE OTTO

Art Director MAYA HAWS-SHADDOCK Assistant Art Director MINGYO LEE Assistant Art Director REBECCA WONG

Business Director and Treasurer SHERIDAN SCHOLTZ Advertising and Marketing Director RYAN CHANG Head Events Coordinator SYDNEY HARKLAU Head Event Coordinator ERIKA NAJERA

Communications Director JOANNE XU Social Media Director RACHEL LUO Blog Director AYU SOFYAN Web Creative Director MADDY MURRAY Alumni Director CHRISTIE HAN Graphic Designer RACHEL EFRUSS Graphic Designer JILLIAN LOWE Graphic Designer ESTHER SHIN

Creative Director MARIAH BECERRA Assistant Creative Director CARLIE ROBERSON Hair and Makeup Director NATALIE ARRIAGA Assistant Hair and Makeup Director AMANDA MACFARLANE Social Director for Hair and Makeup PAOLA MENA Model Director MADELINE WELLS Assistant Model Director GABBY TAN Photographer Director SISSY MARTIN Stylist Director ISAIAH GARCIA Assistant Stylist Director MEGAN SCHUETZ Assistant Stylist Director DAVID SPECTOR

Writing Director NIKKI LASALLA Writing Director ABIGAIL ROSENTHAL Staff

Lynette Adkins Riya Ashok Vivian Baier Nura Bawab Jake Bruner Sydney Bui Jenna Campbell Diane Campos Quinton Carroll Tonya Chen Taylor Courtney Marley Crawford Robert Diaz Anna Droddy

Rachel Efruss Lindsey Ehlers Ivanna English Britainy Fuss Ingrid Garcia Julie García Mattison Gotcher Grecia Gutierrez Micaela Hannah Rebekah Heidel Kelsey Hendershot Maria Hernandez Kaylon Hicks Kevin Hwang

Tristan Ipock Hannah Johnson Kelsey Jones Isabelle Kauffman Alexa Lewis Allie Li Rachel Luo Amanda Mayes Peter McCain Genevieve Miller Paige Miller Katherine Perks Cameron Polonet Nina Putlak

Abby Raffle Alexa Ray Elizabeth Reed Susan Retondo Helena Sampayo Marybeth Schmidt Srija Seenivasan Nick Sheppard Esther Shin Krishnaveni Sigireddi Hanna Stewart Sarah Stiles Amber Thomas Veronica Thompson

Brooke Tieman Joyce Tong Viviana Torres Sarah Tran Julia Vastano Ben Vega Johnny Vo Kristine Wang Alli Weitzel Kalissa White Harrison Xue Nirusha Yogarajah Cameron Young

GISELLE VILLARREAL President

Vice President of Communication ASHLEY ARREOLA Vice President of Production SYDNEY HARKLAU Creative Director SIVIM LY Assistant Creative Director KARINA GAMBOA Content Creator ANDIE KENT Content Creator DAVID SPECTOR Content Creator HUNTER TANEM Model Coordinator MCKYNA HINES Assistant Model Coordinator MADDY CONKLIN Assistant Model Coordinator MARISA MARQUEZ Assistant Model Coordinator MEGAN NASH Set Designer AUSTIN CHEVIER Assistant Set Designer NADER SADOUGHI Assistant Set Designer JAVIER URIEGAS JR Show Production MICHELLE CANTU Show Production MELINA PEREZ Director of Development CHANEL GONSALEZ Assistant Development JOANN KIM Exhibition Room JAMILET MARINEZ Exhibition Room IBUKUN OLADEJO Director of Events ERIKA NAJERA Assistant Director of Events MADDIE BURTON Assistant Director of Events KELSEY HENDERSHOT Director of Social Media APRIL OWUSU Director of Public Relations ASHLEIGH SNYDER Director of Outer Public Relations JESSICA TERAN Assistant Public Relations ALEXANDRA LEE Assistant Public Relations JEANNELLE ROMERO Secretary CHANNING BAKER Secretary DARBY MCALLASTER Treasurer ASHLEY BEDFORD Treasurer TULSI PATEL

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF UFG

GISELLE VILLARREAL PRESIDENT

My name is Giselle Villarreal and I am a Textiles & Apparel Design major. My relationship with University Fashion Group began during my first semester at The University of Texas.

I transferred from Austin Community College and I initially felt lost at such an enormous campus. I turned to HornsLink to learn about organizations, which led me to my first UFG general meeting. Right after the meeting, I called my mom and exclaimed, “Mom, I’ve found my people!” Since then, my passion grew until I climbed the ranks to become the current UFG President.

As president, I am in charge of all parts of production. I overlook the work of all officers, head meetings, and of course lead the production of the annual fashion show. I work in tandem alongside our fashion show director, Ockhee Bego, TXA faculty, and UFG officers and members. My responsibilities also consist of booking guest speakers for our general meetings, community outreach, and planning the New York Fashion Week trips that take place in September and February. This past year we had the opportunity to work with well known designers such as Alexander Wang, Kim Shui, and Lela Rose. NYFW trips allowed UFG an incredible opportunity to be immersed in the fashion industry outside of the small walls of Austin.

For Dimension, I didn’t want past experiences or the fear of new things to limit us when producing the show. I want every-

one to contribute their talents and creativity while still creating professional work. I would not have been able to do it without my Vice Presidents, who have grown to become two of my closest friends and the UFG team. Dimension comes to life with the help of our stage building director, Austin Chevier, a talented senior designer who led the construction of an intricate stage in partnership with his assistant, Javier Uriegas.

Our social media team worked on creating content by documenting fittings, rehearsals, meetings, and students in the labs designing. Our creative director, Sivim Ly, did an excellent job at branding for the fashion show. We have worked tirelessly to ensure cohesion including social media content, the stage, the exhibition room, and the show theme. This year we also heavily focused on promoting the show not only on campus, with the help of our Public Relations Officers Ashleigh Snyder and Jessica Teran. Together they helped promote around campus with tabling, flyers, banners, stickers and networking to ensure that our UT fashion event has abundant press coverage.

This is also the second year that UFG decided to host model calls for the fashion show which were led by our hardworking Model Coordinator, Mckyna Hines. Mckyna and her team worked with senior designers and a local fashion show producer to ensure that pre-show fittings run smoothly and day-of-show model dressing remains on time and organized.

Every single second counts backstage, especially when there are more than 150 designer looks that will be featured on the runway. Finally, our show would not be possible without our volunteers. Volunteers are the extra set of hands that help our head officers execute their duties on show day. With everything that has be happening in the world and even on our own campus, it is a breath of fresh air to collaborate with such amazing people.

UFG has been a huge part of my life and college career. I am truly blessed to have been able to learn from and work with some of the smartest and most talented students. I cannot imagine this year playing out in any other way. Not only did I work with an amazing team, but I was also gifted with two of the funniest and most hard working Vice Presidents. My favorite part of this year has been seeing how much everyone can bring to the table, as everyone has their own special talents that helped excel the fashion show and grow the student organization. As I wrap up my college career in May, I am thankful for all the friendships that I have made, the laughs, the growth, and all the memories I will get to cherish for a lifetime. I am so proud of how far the organization has come and I cannot wait for what the future holds not only for UFG, but for everyone involved. This is a big shout out to all you babes. You all have so much ahead of you and I could not be more proud.

XOXO, GISELLE VILLARREAL

LETTERS FROM THE VICE PRESIDENTS OF UFG

ASHLEY ARREOLA VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATION

Being involved in University Fashion Group has been the most rewarding experience during my time at UT. It has exposed me to the underrated fashion scene that Austin holds, provided a creative community that I could be a part of, and ultimately it is where I found my best friends. I love the endless opportunities UFG holds for anyone interested in fashion, regardless of their major.

SYDNEY HARKLAU VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION

As my time and responsibilities for University Fashion Group have started coming to an end, it is the perfect opportunity to reflect on my time with one of the best organizations that I have ever been a part of. From trying to navigate my way around campus as a freshman member, to leaving this organization as Vice President of Production, my years with UFG have given me incredible experiences that I will cherish for years far beyond college.

I started my time with UFG as an active member my fresh- I first learned about University Fashion Group as a freshman in man year. I completely fell in love with the organization and TXA 205, my very first class pertaining to the major. I learned about what they were doing for UT students, and I knew I wanted the opportunity to attend socials with other people who loved fashto be more than just a member: I wanted to contribute and ion just as much as I did, go to New York Fashion Week and work make positive changes within to better the organization. I hands-on backstage, as well as help produce the largest completely spent my sophomore year serving as co-secretary and am student-run fashion show in the world. Little did I know I would now the Vice President of Communications. eventually be the person planning the trip to New York as well as become one of leaders planning the student fashion show, known As Vice President, I oversee the operations of our social this year as Dimension. media, branding, financial development, public relations, as well as member relations. I also planned our trips to New Working on Dimension has been one of the most stressful, rewardYork Fashion Week with our other VP, Sydney, where we ing, and fun experiences I have ever participated in. From coordinatworked backstage for designers such as Alexander Wang, Ja- ing 40 models, 30 designers, and over 150 garments with one of the son Wu, and Diane von Furstenberg. It has been an amazing best model coordinating teams I have ever seen, to seeing the vision year serving UFG and I am so sad to see it all coming to an behind our stage design come to life (yes we build our own stage end. Every single one of our officers, members, and design- as well), I absolutely cannot wait for everyone to see 200+ students ers have worked so hard in creating and producing this show hard work come to life. This year’s senior designers are so talented and it does not go unnoticed. I hope you enjoy the show! which makes putting this show together that much more rewarding.

Welcome to Dimension.

University Fashion Group has some of the most talented hard workSINCERELY, ing people I have ever seen and I will never forget the experiences ASHLEY ARREOLA that came from this amazing show, Dimension.

THANK YOU! SYDNEY HARKLAU

UFG LEADERSHIP Sivim Ly

As Creative Director of UFG, my role is to create graphics for our events as well as designs for our merchandise. I oversee the overall branding for UFG, and for the fashion show I worked closely with my assistant Karina Gamboa and our social media team to ideate our vision for the promotion videos. Coming up with ideas and executing them into the tangible is the reason why I love being a part of this creative team and UFG.

Mckyna Hines

My responsibilities as the Head Model Coordinator include seeking out local fashion show opportunities for my dressers to work backstage at, hosting model calls in order to find individuals with runway potential, organizing the show order, coordinating fittings for senior designers, and directing dressers backstage during the University of Texas fashion show. In this position I get to work closely with a wonderful production team and a talented group of up-and-coming designers, who all collaborate to ensure a successful fashion show. My job exposes me to all aspects of the exciting and high-paced fashion show, and taught me the importance of communication and organization when it comes to coordinating multiple projects and teams.

Erika Najera

As Director of Events for University Fashion Group my responsibilities include planning and executing all organization socials and fundraisers. My responsibilities for the fashion show include contacting local Austin vendors in hopes of receiving donations for the VIP bags given out during the show, as well as preparing the bags the day of. I also plan all of the food for organization meetings, as well as for the day of the show in order to feed all of our student volunteers and designers.

Michelle Cantu & Melina Perez

As Co-Heads of Show Production, our tasks include curating the hair and makeup looks and collaborating with local hair and makeup artists and musicians for the show. This year, we partnered with a local a Austin musician to produce the music and make it unique to everyone’s looks and each section of the show. More importantly, we are the liaisons between UFG and the senior designers to ensure a successful show and the wants and needs of the seniors are heard and considered.

Creative Director

Head Model Coordinator

Director of Events

Heads of Show Production

UFG LEADERSHIP Ashleigh Snyder

As the Director of Public Relations, I am responsible for sending out the information for tabling the week of the meetings and for large campus-wide events such as Forty Acres Fest and Explore UT. By promoting the organization throughout campus, we are hoping to encourage new members to join and also reach out to the larger fashion community in Austin. During the spring semester, in preparation for the fashion show, I reserve the banner spaces and set up the TV ads for the Union and SAC monitors. My committee and I also organize the check-in station for volunteers, press, and VIP for the day of the show and make sure that flyers are hung throughout campus.

April Owusu

As Social Media Director, it’s my job to keep UFG’s social media accounts updated and to promote our events throughout the year. During the spring semester, the social media team is focused on promoting the fashion show. This year we recruited RTF students to interpret the theme of Dimension and create incredible promo teasers. We also keep our Instagram updated with content that shows what goes on behind the scenes in preparation for the show.

Director of Public Relations

Director of Social Media

Channing Baker & Darby McAllaster

As the UFG secretaries, our roles includes sending out the weekly newsletter to our members, administering points, and informing members of new fashion-related job and internship opportunities around Austin. For the fashion show we’re responsible for sending out volunteer sign up sheets for the various roles at the show, as well as coordinating the backstage pass distribution. However, one of the best parts of our position is getting to greet new members and welcoming them to the organization.

Ashley Bedford & Tulsi Patel

As treasurers of UFG, our main duties are to create, update, and oversee the organization budget, bank accounts, and monitor and facilitate the fundraising tactics to increase our budget. Overall, our job entails a variety of factors such as allocating funds within our departments, managing our card system, and obtaining funds from multiple sources for our internal operations and fashion show.

Secretaries

Treasurers

Designers 12 16 22 28 34 40 46 52 58 64 70 76 80 84 90 94 100 106 112 118 124 130 136 142 146 152 158 164 168

Austyn Adkison Alejandra Agostini Ra'chelle Allen Natalie Arriaga Evelyn Brady Martha Caballero Michelle CantĂş Jojo Caponera Austin Chevier Danielle Dowell Arden Frank Rebekah Heidel Taylor Hicks Alexandra Hill Kevin Hwang Jihyo Kim Alexandra Lee Anna Kate Mason Ruby Meza Brian Park Melina Perez Becky Phung Cambry Prichard Clare Robinson Lindsay Stewart Jessica Teran Giselle Villarreal Ellie Wendland Hannah Wilmeth

Austyn Adkinson

Austyn Adkison is a Texas native who came from Van, a small city right outside of Tyler with a population of 2,500 people. After moving from Van, Adkison and her family found themselves a new home in Austin. Having lived in Austin for awhile when she was younger and being from a family full of longhorns fans, Adkison decided to attend the University of Texas where she began her studies in textile and apparel design.

Her understanding for fashion was influenced by her girl friends back at home in Van. Many of her friends wore nearly all the same things, clothing designs and patterns were the same, the only thing setting outfits apart were colors. Being from a small town, fashion was limited, and having seen everyone with the same outfit, Adkison wanted something different.

Adkison’s passion for design began at a young age. Back in kindergarten, she began collecting a variety of fabric scraps. With her plethora of scraps and mind full of creativity, she taped different pieces of fabric together into a composition notebook that she carried everywhere she went. Alongside the pieces of fabric, she would sketch out different designs, and in moments like this, that is when she knew she wanted to dedicate her life into design.

She believes fashion is a way of expressing oneself.

Depending on your mood, your plans, or whatever might be going on in day is reflected in what an individual aspires to wear. She loves fashion in the sense that anyone can make it what they want it to be.

Often when designing, Adkinson is drawn towards bohemian styles as well as street wear looks. However, in her most recent collection was inspired by nature.

Her nature based collection revolved around the idea of where she imagined seeing people wear these designs.

Her imagination led her to picture individuals wearing her designs at a music festival which led her to pursue her nature entrenched collection.

When she is not hunkered down in designing, she tries to spend her free time often doing homework or with her friends and when she is out visiting family she spends time supporting her brother and his sporting events.

As for ten years from now, Adkison is unsure of what the future has in store for her, hopefully a family of her own and a job in the fashion industry. Since the future is so unclear, Adkison is taking baby step into the future, she hopes to work at a museum where she can be surrounded by her favorite things; art, history, and fashion.

Writer Krishnaveni Sigireddi, Photographer Sarah Stiles, Model Sarah Tran, HMUA Sarah Stiles, Layout Maya Haws-Shaddock

Alejandra Agostini

Growing up in a small bordertown in Mexico called Reynosa, Alejandra Agostini always wanted to study something in the legal field. Her decision to dive into design at the University of Texas was a spontaneous move. She originally enrolled as an International Relations major, but made the change after studying abroad where she had the time and resources to truly emerge herself into it.

Alejandra’s favorite texture to design with is Duchess Satin. It has a lot of structure and a nice sheen texture to create beautiful gowns. Duchess Satin can be intricately embroidered and display a drastic amount of contrast if designed uniquely. Alejandra’s understanding of fashion derives from having to transform the same outfit for different occasions. As a consumer, one looks for a universal piece for one’s wardrobe that can

be worn more than once. She says there is no such thing as a definitive style, because every morning is a new opportunity to reinvent one’s self.

Alejandra’s current inspirations range from 19th century philosophy to nature to the latest NASA photos of Jupiter’s surface. She also admires Lebanese designer, Georges Hobeika, who embroiders beautiful textiles and produces very clean and sharp silhouettes. Her intentions for her collection are to imitate nature and the bird of paradise flower. She created ambiguous pieces for women in the corporate world that are also appropriate for a getaway trip. Her excitement for this collection has kept her on her toes; luckily, the anticipation is finally over! After Alejandra receives her degree this Spring, she hopes to pursue illustration and continue her growth as a designer.

Writer Ingrid Garcia, Photographer Micaela Hannah, Model Gabby Tan, HMUA Jessica Teran, Layout Mingyo Lee

Ra’chelle Allen

Ra’chelle Allen was born in Watertown, New York and moved to San Antonio, Texas when she was a child, and it was during her childhood when she realized that apparel design was her calling. Being a different size than the people she was surrounded by prompted her to quickly recognize the injustices of the fashion industry, namely the exclusion of clothing for people bigger and taller than a certain standard. In coming to this realization, Ra’chelle decided to blaze the trail in creating apparel designs that embrace and celebrate diversity, although she does not think of diversity as something to necessarily “embrace.” She is diverse-she has always been different, and felt like the rest of the world needed to get on board with accepting people of bigger sizes and designing fun and trendy things for them as well as everyone else.

She believes being born in New York, a place rich with different cultures and ethnicities, helped her realize what was sorely lacking in the industry and inspires her to keep creating. Having said that, her biggest inspiration is her own life. She has really come to appreciate the things that make life wonderful, things like family and being alive in general. Personal experiences of her own

have pushed her to be even more sympathetic towards all people, regardless of background, and put things into perspective-- she has learned to take chances and risks and go for what she wants because nothing is certain.

The inspiration behind her collection however is representation and inclusivity when it comes to body types.

Due to a lack of plus size models, Ra’chelle decided to design her line with the overarching theme of creating pieces that look good on everybody from any angle, while still representing a versatile and busy woman.

Ra’chelle does not concern herself with planning out every detail of her future, but she definitely knows what direction she wants to head in. In the future, she wants her own company that focuses on representation and is inclusive when it comes to the media. She is not sure whether or not she wants to come at this idea from an advertising launchpoint or from fashion, but she is certain in her passion for representation for all marginalized groups. An avid supporter of the Body Positivity and Black Lives Matter movements, she feels that these social issues paired with her experiences as a child fuel her passion for this cause and inspire her to continue creating her art.

Writer Susan Retondo, Photographer Harrison Xue, Model Kristine Wang, HMUA Kristine Wang, Layout Mingyo Lee

Natalie Arriaga

Natalie Arriaga is an Austin native. In fact, she cites the city’s distinctive creativity as helping her toward her path as a designer. However, it wasn’t until an intro design class at the University of Texas when Natalie knew she had found something special. She says when she began learning to design, she felt unreal and that it was something out of a dream. Although that intro class was merely the beginning, she has come to realize that she has a responsibility larger than herself: reversing the cycle of fast fashion and saving the planet.

Although her passion for creating is intertwined with a sense of altruistic duty, her current line embodies personal strength. The garments featured in Dimension derive their influence from two topics. The first source of inspiration comes from the morpho butterfly, with its seemingly iridescent deep-blue and pearly wings.

However, Natalie was drawn to this animal not only for its rich color, but for its optical illusion. The characteristic pearly blue of the morpho butterfly is not actually legitimate: it is the way in which light reflects off the butterfly’s tetrahedral or pyramid-like wing surface that create the faux colors. Using this complex biological design for inspiration, Natalie incorporated triangular shapes throughout her collection.

Natalie also drew inspiration from querencia, the part of a bull arena where a bull goes to regain power after being wounded. Natalie says she would keep this sense

of strength in mind when she felt like giving up. With the querencia and the butterfly as symbols of courage and innovation, Natalie says these two subjects helped drive her present collection. “Sometimes I would go for a run or a walk and a butterfly would appear and fly next to me for a moment,” Natalie says. “It would allow me to go back to the place where I could draw up strength and keep going.”

In Natalie’s free time, she enjoys watching YouTube and honing her already-dept makeup skills. If she gets a free weekend, she says she enjoys sleeping in, making breakfast and reflecting on the previous week. She says analyzing her emotions is often a great wealth of inspiration for her creative process. “I’m a very emotional person,” Natalie says. “It’s fun to create with something with these feelings.”

Although Natalie isn’t sure exactly what her future entails, she’s currently applying to internships in Los Angeles. If all else fails, she says she always has makeup to fall back on. No matter what happens, Natalie says she just wants to be happy. No matter what, her relationship with design has informed and enhanced what Natalie understands about life. “I now know what my responsibilities are and I’m trying to be the change I want to see in the world,” Natalie says. “By changing my shopping habits and educating others, I’m hoping to change fashion.”

Writer Aiden Park, Photographer Sissy Martin, Models Phyllis Gong, Elizabeth Reed, HMUA Natalie Arriaga, Layout Rachel Efruss

Evelyn Brady

Evelyn Brady calls Liberty, Texas her hometown.

According to Evelyn, the setting of her youth had nothing to do with her current career as a design student.

In fact, Evelyn says, most of the people in the “typical small town” wore clothes that all looked the same. When she left Liberty for the University of Texas, Evelyn came in an undeclared major. It wasn’t until one Halloween when she created her own Wonder Woman costume -- without knowing how to sew, no less -- she realized apparel design was the perfect fit for her. “Imagine the ideas I could bring to life if I actually did know how to properly construct a garment,” Evelyn says.

Evelyn’s present garment line was inspired by angels’ ethereal beauty. She’s particularly drawn to these celestial beings’ regal grace, kindness and natural radiance. Additionally, Evelyn says she wanted to design something with gold and construct angel wings.

As for her personal style, Evelyn’s says she turns not to a singular person or thing, but rather entities that embody strength, honesty and independence. In particular, she looks to fictional and non-fictional strong women role models such as Beyonce and Wonder Woman. “They teach us to be proud of ourselves and not let others define us,” Evelyn says. “But use our strength and power to help others.”

Evelyn says that after arriving to UT, her understanding surrounding fashion radically changed. Previously, she thought of fashion as vapid, shallow and only accessible to the affluent. However, upon moving to Austin, Evelyn says fashion’s true worth became apparent, and that she realized everyone should be entitled to enjoy it and “express who we are.” She also contests that fashion is a way to relate to others, as it’s usually integral to making first impressions.

Even in her freetime, Evelyn seldom stops creating. She enjoys painting, drawing, crafting, playing her trumpet and singing. She also relishes spending time with her sister and playing Xbox online with her father and younger siblings. However, looking ahead, Evelyn says she never wants to settle for something she doesn’t want to be doing. She sees herself traveling in 10 years. She also wants to one day work in a costume shop workroom that does contract work for Warner Brothers Studios.

Hopefully, she says, she’ll one day be chatting with Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot while taking measurements for their Superman and Wonder Woman costumes. Maybe one day, we’ll see Evelyn accept an Academy Award for costume design. After all, as Wonder Woman’s Antiope said, “You are stronger than you believe. You have greater powers than you know.”

Writer Aiden Park, Photographer Katherine Perks, Model Genevieve Miller, HMUA Natalie Arriaga, Layout Kalissa White

Martha Caballero

As a Houston native, Martha Caballero is influenced by the people and community around her. The metropolitan aesthetic, the diversity, the hip-hop and urban scene, and the array of colors all play into Martha’s design ideas. Her inspiration from her family and her home has helped her pull together a collection of pieces that feel familiar to her. It is what she knows that drives her design process.

Martha’s collection is influenced by “urban styles, and mixing them with upscale fashions. In specific, [she] took a lot of influence from music especially from the hip-hop, rap, and trap culture” creating a street, but also flashy style. Martha is also inspired by the color red, because it is a bold and fierce color. She always incorporates it into her designs and for this “specific collection [she] showcased the color red by incorporating a rose that I drew into my textile print that I designed.” Her collection is meant for the urban retro aesthetic millennials, who enjoy the music culture.

Martha is an adventurous person! In her free time she is either dancing, playing soccer, or rock climbing up Austin’s Enchanted Rock. She absolutely loves sports and is always watching the latest Houston Rockets game, or cheering on her favorite soccer player Neymar.

Her love for the athletics has helped in her pursuing a career path in working for an athlete company such as Nike or Adidas. With a background in Pre-Physical Therapy, and understanding the movements of the body, Martha is passionate about promoting and creating innovations in Sport Performance Apparel, “especially for highly anticipated events like the World Cup.” Adidas is her favorite brand because of their passion for sport performance, which leads them to doing innovative things with their textiles materials and designs. Martha also plans to launch her “own brand, a streetwear line to bring to an audience of millennials; as well as a women’s suit line to empower women of all ethnicities in their professional endeavors while looking, feeling, and expressing themselves for the part.”

Martha’s take-away from fashion is to be herself, and to always express who she wants to be. This idea of self expression is something she tries to have influenced in her designs. To her, fashion “is the freedom to truly express who you are by using clothes, garments, prints, and accessories as an extension of what you want to express to the world. It is a form of creation that is never limited to any idea or vision, fashion is the freedom to create.”

Writer Mattison Gotcher, Photographer Alexa Ray, Models Amanda Mayes, Hannah Stewart, HMUA Mariah Becerra, Layout Allie Li

Michelle Cantú

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, but raised in Pasadena, the state of Texas has left Michelle Cantú with the need to make her own fantasy world. For her, designing brings a world of possibilities in contrast to the strange hometown she grew up in. She remembers spending time at a playground that used to be a garbage dump with grass on it, digging into hills, and finding miscellaneous objects along the way for entertainment. It was only until her sophomore year of college that she unknowingly threw herself into a draping course for seniors and advanced apparel students. It was in this class that her hands and mind naturally connected in a way that hadn’t occurred before- a way that organically produced something she was happy with. She will never forget the feeling of blindly walking into a project and letting her creativity take control; that feeling, after all, is the reason she is here today.

Michelle’s current inspirations are her artistic friends that she watches as they create with such passion and dedication. Her friends are unafraid of using bright colors in their work which is something she has always been in awe of. Physically seeing her friends’ finished products with such beautiful, bold colors reminds Michelle to step out of her comfort zone.

Aside from her friends, Michelle greatly admires Belgian designer, Martin Margiela, founder of fashion house

Maison Martin Margiela. His radical ideas about fashion, like the pulling of lining out of a coat and stitching it into a slip dress inspire her. The dress and coat never detach, and it is simply worn by pulling the arms of the coat behind one’s shoulders making it look like there are four arms.

One fabric Michelle loves to play with is muslin. It’s a cheap plain weave material that is easy to work with, it is commonly used to make samples. She has never been able to find another fabric that lets the design speak for itself while simultaneously holding so well.

Michelle’s collection is composed of fabric filling out the human shape with bulbous and blurry edges. It’s about breaking traditional fitted silhouettes and creating textures and shapes that mold themselves away from the body. The models wearing her collection are meant to feel unapproachable physically and metaphorically. In Michelle’s words, “in this case, the untouchable draws one in.”

Upon graduating from the University of Texas, Michelle hopes to become a design assistant in a setting that prioritizes creativity first. She’d eventually like to have her own studio, where she can freely experiment with all kinds of textiles and hold complete creative control similarly like the day she walked into her first draping course.

Writer Ingrid Garcia, Photographer Brooke Tieman, Models Abe Heath, Carlie Roberson, Nora Rosenberg, HMUA Amanda MacFarlane, Layout Rebecca Wong

Jojo Caponera

Gioia “Jojo” Caponera knew design was her dream at the age of nine. Sketching dresses in her childhood soon led to a lifelong passion for fashion design, and she says that fervor now extends “further than the sun”- no exaggeration. Born in Italy and raised in Dallas, Jojo attributes her Ethiopian cultural upbringing for her design work.

Jojo’s collection is inspired by a “Kaba,” a cape-like garment worn by the bride and groom within an Ethiopian wedding, because she wanted to showcase and draw from the beauty that inspired her work. “This is one reason I love fashion because it challenges you to bring something to life that you may have not known was in you,” Caponera says about her collection and of her Ethiopian influence.

Caponera’s favorite fashion designers are Micheal Costello, Esé Azénabor, Olivier Rousteing, and Jeremy Scott. “I love these designers because I see parts of myself and my style in their designs,” says Jojo. Her ultimate goal is to design evening and cocktail dresses which is a big reason behind her admiration for Michael and Esé’s work, but also loves that she can see her own style in Olivier and Jeremy. “I love fashion when it makes a statement and I feel each these designers do just that in their own way.

Her free time consists of spending quality time with close

friends, giving herself “me time” to watch Grown-ish, reading a book with a glass of wine, making fake music videos in her room and making garments outside of her school projects.

On a typical Saturday you can find Jojo cooking up a hearty breakfast, usually including her favorite-eggs, catching up on TV and living religiously by her planner to make sure all her weekend tasks get taken care of. She often focuses the majority of her time on working on her garments for the show, with sporadic dance breaks and Face Timing with friends to keep her in good spirits.

In 10 years Jojo sees herself working full time as the CFO of her clothing brand PASSiON Apparel LLC, a company she and Elexis Spencer began themselves. She plans to travel back to Italy and Ethiopia after graduation to build her brand and network internationally, both personally and for PASSiON. She also looks forward to going back to Cape Town, South Africa and build on the connections she made during her study abroad summer of 2016. Jojo would also like to be involved in fashion/event production while hopefully beginning her own modeling agency. Lastly, and most personally, she dreams of building a school, hospital, and retirement facility in Ethiopia in honor of her beloved nona, Tsedale Mariam.

Writer Kaylon Hicks, Photographer Paige Miller, Model Hannah Johnson HHMUA Viviana Torres, Layout Rebecca Wong

Austin Chevier

Creating is just as important as healing. Through creation there’s introspection, expression, and beauty.

However, some people are bogged down by the fallacy that medicine, law or engineering is more valuable than art. Austin Chevrier was a pre-med major who found himself preparing for a career he wasn’t passionate about. He began daydreaming about clothes instead of focusing on the patients at internships. In those moments, he realized he could contribute more to society aesthetically rather than physically. Fashion became his adventure.

Austin’s journey has forced him into understanding himself. He became frustrated in attempting to convey emotions he barely grasped himself into art, but in the process of designing his line, he empathized and gained a new perspective of people and art. In fact, he chose to create a collection in which he emphasized how clothing can be edgy and uncomfortable. He wanted to provide a line that allowed men to explore new shapes and silhouettes while maintaining masculinity. The goal was

to break the monotony of traditional menswear, to give men the opportunity to express themselves. Because for Austin, fashion is having a conversation with society by choosing what or what not to wear.

His end goal when designing isn’t to accentuate the body but to distort it. He views the body as a structure; building upon it with different designs and ideas. As he does this, he imagines another plane or world in which these distorted figures exist. He aspires to break from the conventional mold and create pieces that transcend time. Some garments are reminiscent of body armor but are taken to “hyper reality” through the use of tech materials. Austin aims to merge reality and fantasy; old and new in order to craft abstract ideas.

Upon graduation, Austin hopes to move to Paris or New York in order to work under an established designer until he grows more in the industry. Then he plans to work independently and continue moving towards his own creative direction.

Writer Britainy Fuss, Photographer Vivian Baier, Model Jake Bruner HMUA Paola Mena Layout Veronica Thompson

Danielle Dowell

People usually stumble across their creativity unexpectedly. The process of creation seems to pull you in without warning – and at a young age. That was the case for Danielle Dowell. In the seventh grade, she had the ambition to design and assemble her first gown. This was only the beginning of the fashion rabbit hole she would tumble down. Unlike Alice in Wonderland, though, Danielle is happy to be a part of the industry.

fact, nature is a prominent inspiration for her. As she grows in her appreciation for fashion and its components, her admiration for nature grows too. To her, the two are closely connected, like pleated fabric and the underside of mushrooms. The more she seems to learn about fashion, the more she seems to relate to the world around her. Therefore, she continues to pursue fashion; it enhances her life.

After creating her dress in the seventh grade, Danielle continued to dabble in design though she only saw the process as a hobby. Then she enrolled in a fashion design course in high school. Her teacher soon took notice of Danielle’s work and encouraged her to seriously consider a career in design. She just kept getting deeper in the rabbit hole. However, Danielle is more than a designer. Hiking with her dog, playing softball and a cup of coffee are important aspects in her life. In

The next stop for Danielle is an internship this summer in New York City with a couture designer. Soon after, she’ll be getting married. She’s keeping her fingers crossed that in ten years she’ll be a creative director or lead designer for a brand where she can keep producing her creative visions and design as she so pleases. Until then, Danielle is perfectly content to follow whatever path the fashion industry leads her on. She’s happy to be in the rabbit hole that is artistry.

Writer Britaing Fuss, Photographer Micaela Hannah, Model Tonya Chen HMUA Danielle Dowell, Layout Allie Li

Arden Frank

Arden Frank grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. While there was not a specific moment that she realized apparel design was right for her, she credits her grandmother as the person who put fashion in her blood and her grandfather as the person who gave her her business acumen.

Her mother and aunt carry her grandparents spirit with them as Arden continues her journey in fashion.

Arden’s biggest inspiration right now is color. Although her collection is black and white, she says that as soon as she finished designing her collection, she began craving color again. She is specifically inspired by the high energy hot pink and bright orange radiate, especially in different textures like fur, vinyl, silk and suede. Her two all-time favorite designers are Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh, but she has recently fallen in love with Dries Van Noten. She is fascinated by the way he mixes colors, patterns and textures in all stages of the creative process while allocating a lot of focus to the fabrics his house produces. She also appreciates how Dries has such a balance between work and relaxation, and she strives to do the same.

For Arden, fashion is a means of self expression. After wearing a uniform for the entirety of her high school career, Arden loved the freedom of coming to college and

being able to portray her sense of style in any way that she’d like. Similarly, her collection plays with this sense of freedom. She was inspired by contrasts like black and white, hard and soft, light and dark, mental and physical. Arden’s love of balance also plays into her collection because she believes these contrasts hold a middle, common ground that oftentimes, women inhabit. She hopes that her garments remind and empower women to embrace their opposite qualities in order to find their balance of positive and negative.

A typical Saturday for Arden includes a long workout to shake off the stress of the week. In fact, you can often find her at any new workout studio in Austin with her friends during her free time. She loves to kickbox and then go to brunch with her friends as well. In 10 years, she hopes to one day be working as the founder and CEO of a textiles and apparel sustainability consulting firm. However, she plans on working in various areas of the industry in order to gain a variety of experience.

She has an expansive amount of interests including business, fashion, technology and sustainability. Her love of travel, as well, leads her to want to travel the globe with her brother so they can both seek inspiration.

She would also like to one day open a restaurant with her brother.

Writer Nikki LaSalla, Photographer Peter McCain, Models Gabriela Tan, Sarah Tran, HHMUA Jenna Campbell, Layout Maya Haws-Shaddock

Rebekah Heidel

Design student by day, barista by night. Hard work and dedication are values close to Rebekah Heidel’s heart, found both in her inspirations like Alexander McQueen and her personal work. Growing up in Rusk, Texas, Rebekah found a passion for design in the theater. Her family introduced her to theater at the age of 10 and she fell in love with costume work. From costuming, her interests expanded into various fields of fashion design and inevitably led her to pursue studies in design at the University of Texas.

Much of her inspiration comes from reflections on current politics, culture and social climate. She finds joy in creating work with a grand metaphor and a deeper meaning. These interests help her to connect two seemingly unrelated subjects. Rebekah’s passions derive from a significant experience in her life: her twin coming out as transgender. This moment altered her perspective on everything, including fashion. She gained awareness of the social construct that is gendering of all aspects of daily life. Within everyday fashion, she paid attention to this American binary that seemed to encompass our wardrobe. Rebekah’s new sensitivity gave her a new philosophy on clothing. Wear what you want, and if it makes you feel good, then it is good. Her experiences and passions have come together to create a juxtaposition of fabric that weave into a final piece.

Rebekah’s work ethic shines through in everything she does. If it is not as a design student working hard to

finish up final projects, she is working hard at a local coffee shop. One can find her on the weekends brewing up coffee as well as conversation with regular customers. In fact, her experiences as a barista have led her to possibly continue working at a coffee shop or cafe temporarily while looking to establish herself in the fashion industry.

In her recent collection Rebekah has drawn from her interests in the current political climate. She takes inspiration from influential women who stand at the forefront of social movements, figures like Beyoncé, Halsey, Zendaya and Rihanna. These women work towards equality for women, people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. The common theme of the rose symbolizes both beauty and sacrifice at the same time. Roses provide a contrast between the gentleness of the petal and the thorny stem. Like the rose, these women represent both beauty and sacrifice put into fight for justice and equality. Rebekah sees the rose as a symbol of how women are not required to live a specific life to be beautiful.

Following her time at UT, Rebekah is prepared for whatever the world throws at her. Being the free spirit she is, the young designer sees herself anywhere and is ready to leave her mark on any place she visits. Whether it is at a small coffee shop in Austin or as a designer making their way in the industry, Rebekah is ready to work hard and exhibit her talent.

Writer Ben Vega, Photographer Katherine Perks, Model Helena Sampayo, HMUA Rebekah Heidel, Layout Maya Haws-Shaddock

Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks is from Lake Dallas, Texas. During her high school years, Taylor took every art class she could fit into her schedule. Her classes were small, allowing her to closely engage with her teachers and become familiar with multiple art mediums. After seeing a friend succeed as a model in New York City, Taylor decided her senior year of high school to marry her passion and talent for studio art to the alluring electric pace of fashion design.

While she was always an interested student of art, Taylor credits observing how creatively her great grandmother would dress for shaping her idea of fashion. “I remember when I was little and she would let me put out all of her jewelry … for me to try on,” Taylor says. “It was a dream come true.”

Nowadays, when she’s not working on her garments, Taylor can be found “stocking up on way too many vegetables” at an Austin farmer’s market or enjoying brunch at Perla’s or Café No Sé if she feels like treating herself.

Taylor admires Richard Malone’s work, citing the combination of his clothes’ “highly sculptural” and avant garde structures with their practical and sustainable construction as something she wishes to

achieve in her own designs. Fluid acrylic painting inspired Taylor’s latest collection: “This technique creates very organic shapes and has such a high contrast with the structure of the canvas,” Taylor says. If forced to choose one textile to design with, Taylor would reach for wool because it presses really well, has a nice hand and weight and she would be able to find it in all kinds of colors (the choice of a true pragmatist).

While admitting she’s not quite sure what her future holds, one thing is for sure. Someway, somewhere, Taylor is going to be a designer: “I don’t know if that means for my own label or for someone else but I love the creative side of the industry and I really want to be a part of that,” Taylor says.

With the excitement of the unknown fueling her relentlessly positive and open outlook of the future, Taylor believes is is an exciting time to be in the fashion industry because it’s going through a lot of changes. She knows that the fashion industry isn’t always glamorous.

“Being a designer means pulling all-nighters, and your work becomes your entire life,” Taylor says. “But if I’m designing cool stuff with cool people, there are no bad days.” Like how she felt when trying on all her great grandmother’s jewelry when she was young, Taylor’s future is a dream waiting to come true.

Writer Nick Sheppard, Photographer Alli Weitzel, Model Amanda Mayes, HMUA Amanda Mayes, Layout Mingyo Lee

Alexandra Hill

Alexandra Hill’s history is a transient one, claiming many hometowns rather than a single place. Alexandra believes this mobility ultimately benefited her. “Seeing so many beautiful places and people kind of filled my head with inspiration and led me to a creative outlet such as design,” she says. Dissatisfied with her original geography major, Alexandra discovered the textile and apparel program at UT halfway through her first semester and changed her major almost immediately.

If it’s a Saturday, Alexandra is working at Loft (and if she’s not, you know she’s sleeping in and eating a full breakfast). Alexandra spends her downtime catching up on her favorite shows, reading, cooking, and painting.

Practicality is paramount to her modern-day Space Race-inspired line. Growing up, Alexandra didn’t ogle over every page of Vogue or binge YouTube runway shows; her interactions with fashion took place in the store “as a consumer and not so much as an artist,” something that she attributes to shaping her design approach. “When I design I always try to have

practicality in mind,” she says. “I always try to be responsible regarding materials used and functionality of the garments I make, considering the impact the fashion industry has on the Earth.”

Alexandra’s most recent inspiration comes from “asymmetrical balance and proportion, and how different sizes, colors, and shapes interact with each other.” She admires the innovative and unique geometric designs of Stephane Rolland and Stella McCartney’s work, especially her focus on sustainability. If she were to launch all but one type of fabric out of the escape pod of her orbital design studio, she’d keep cotton plain weave: “It can be manipulated in so many ways, it can be casual or dressed up, it’s comfortable and easy to work with, it’s just overall very versatile,” Alexandra explains.

In 10 years, Alexandra sees herself with an established design career, a gig at a commercial ready-to-wear brand, and a dog in her lap as she enjoys that full Saturday morning breakfast in her New York apartment.

With her talent, shooting for the stars isn’t out of reach.

Writer Nick Sheppard, Photographer Alexa Ray, Model Hannah Johnson HMUA Viviana Torres, Layout Diane Campos

Kevin Hwang

Kevin Hwang is from Jersey Village, Texas, a small town outside of Houston. He was first drawn to design through a passion for visual arts when he was younger.

In his teens, Kevin became more interested in the fashion industry, from fashion photography to model scouting to creative directing.

“I just really enjoyed the entire process of styling, fashion and model coming together to create a piece of art,” Kevin says. “Eventually, this led me to also want to explore the ways in which the fashion (and) apparel affected the final visual product.”

Fashion plays a big part in his life, even outside of design. In his free time, Kevin has continued practicing as a fashion photographer since he got his first DSLR camera a little over two years ago. Doing so has allowed him to branch out and explore his talents. “I started test shooting with my friends, but what really made my portfolio thrive was joining UT’s Spark Magazine as a staff photographer,” Kevin says. “Since then, I’ve test shot with models in Austin, Boston and New York City.

Fashion photography can get stressful, especially the post-editing process, but it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do and I’m glad that I finally got around to pursuing it.”

Kevin found the inspiration for his collection in an

unlikely place: anxiety, his own thoughts and worries and the way they accumulate until exploding. “I wanted to incorporate the ideas of structure and chaos both transitioning to and coexisting with one another,” he says.

His fashion photography also influences his designs.

Kevin is inspired by architecture, structure and almost anything else he comes into contact with just walking around the city. “My design and photography aesthetics usually coincide, so when I’m scouting for locations around the city I also find inspiration for designs,” Kevin says.

Kevin is also involved in Creative Arts + Theater, a campus organization that puts on multiple productions. Kevin played the role of Sir Todd for the 37th annual Madrigal Dinner last semester, something he really enjoyed.

After graduation, Kevin hopes to combine his love for fashion with his computer science degree and work in fashion technology, whether that includes working for a website like Rent the Runway, or developing more accessible fashion with companies or nonprofits. He also hopes to develop his work as a fashion photographer.

Regardless of what Kevin decides to do, his versatility and creative energy will aid him to becoming the innovative tour de force he already embodies.

Writer Abigail Rosenthal, Photographer Kevin Hwang, Model Mia Wenska, HMUA Julie Garcia, Layout Diane Campos

Jihyo Kim

Jihyo Kim is a senior fashion design student and a storyteller. Growing up in College Station, Texas, there was not much for Jihyo to do. She spent most of her time watching movies, reading children’s books, drawing and painting, writing and performing plays with her friends, and writing novels (that she never managed to finish). All of these different passions and skills Jihyo enjoyed while growing up have influenced her love for fashion design and creating a mystical world through clothing.

Her collection was inspired by “The Little Prince,” particularly the storyline with the Little Prince and the rose, and how special the rose was to the Little Prince. Jihyo enjoys the idea of mixing storytelling to current social issues. She loves fashion because it is a part of her. It feels comfortable and familiar like the stories she grew up with. “Fashion is a way to express who I am,” Jihyo says. “Fashion is a tool of communicating who I am to other people.” Jihyo believes that fashion is a way for people to express their

own aesthetics and fantasies through their wardrobe.

In her free time, Jihyo enjoys hanging out with her friends. Her favorite designer is Valentino. “I think they create what most women would dream of wearing and I love their sense of color,” she says. Her favorite textile is faux leather, because with faux leather “you can’t go wrong, and I like the different shapes it can create.”

Jihyo has two passions: philosophy and fashion. She took both classes at UT and realized the with fashion, she could truly express herself with creativity and design, not just having a good grade. Her love for Textiles and Apparel has helped her decision to pursue working as a fashion designer with a brand she loves, and she hopes to see that for herself in 10 years from now. The future for Jihyo is to “become a designer that embraces both ethical fashion and fashion-forward designs” and to always be influenced by the stories she sees in order to create her own.

Writer Mattison Gotcher, Photographer Vivian Baier, Model Carlie Roberson HMUA Mariah Beccera, Layout Isabelle Kauffman

Alexandra Lee

Alexandra Lee is from Dallas, Texas and her design career began when she was young. It started with her father, who learned to sew from his mother and grandmother growing up in New York City. He passed along his knowledge to his daughter, giving Alexandra her first sewing machine when she was 9. She began by learning how to stitch things like curtains and bedspreads, which appealed to her love for working with her hands. However, she was not yet certain that apparel design was her path and initially attended the University of Texas for advertising, debating between that and a career in interior design. After one semester, Alexandra decided to pursue design and enrolled in the Textiles and Apparel program.

Alexandra is a thoroughly creative person. When she was younger, Alexandra learned cooking, basic woodworking and throwing pottery alongside learning how to sew. Through designing clothing, Alexandra discovered a passion for creating functional art. Fashion to her is wearable art, and she loves the way a person can use something as basic and necessary as clothing to express themselves.

These beliefs are translated into her work through the way she likes to manipulate fabric to create movement and shape in her design. She prefers to supplement the traditional method of sketching out ideas on paper first, because it feels more natural to her to begin her work straight from the form. Her designs are centered on movement and structure by highlighting silhouettes and the natural curves of the body; the intersection of these structure and movement fascinates her. Alexandra loves to work with challenging materials, and her favorite textile is the crepe, because of the way it drapes and moves and always looks good.

Because of her interest in structure and motion, the designs Alexandra creates are heavily inspired by pottery, specifically porcelain. The concept of taking a lump of clay and shaping it into something beautiful reminds her of how she approaches design.

Her biggest inspiration for her collection, 23.64.8, is the verse Isaiah 64:8: “But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.� Her faith is a passion she follows in her daily life and serving as a Young Life Leader in southwest Austin.

Writer Susan Retando, Photographer Anna Droddy, Model Lindsey Ehlers HMUA Alexa Lewis, Layout Isabelle Kauffman.

Anna Kate Mason

Anna Kate Mason, from Katy, has loved clothing for as long as she could remember. At a young age she would dress up her stuffed animals and her pet cat. She found herself making her pets and toys outfits out of paper.

As she got older her interest for fashion grew in middle school and started taking off in high school when she began sewing. From then on she knew she wanted to root fashion into her life.

Her influence in understanding fashion sparked from her childhood which still reflects her adult interest in fashion. As a child she loved different TV shows and characters. She has always shared a love for teddy bears, cats, and other animals. She finds herself drawn to clothing with cute concepts. She believes individuals, including herself, do not have to essentially grow out of “kid things.” She fondly looks back on her childhood memories. Often when designing, she is drawn towards animals, stuffed animals, and vintage children’s items.

However, she also takes deep interest in horror films and scary motifs.

She often spends time watching horror films and reading horror novels which influenced her to select the theme of monsters. Her senior collection is based on Japanese creatures (obake) and woodblock prints. She has always

shared a love for Japanese woodblock artwork. Her intention is to translate the idea of monsters into a more more fun way.

Mason is a double major in Japanese. Because of her studies, she often spends her free time studying Japanese and Asian cultures. She also enjoys watching films, cooking and traveling when she has the chance.

After she graduates, she hopes to teach abroad in Japan for a year or two through the Japanese Exchange and Teaching program. Other than that, she hopes to continue learning, studying and designing. However, she would enjoy having the opportunity to work with others designers and to learn from them. With school being out of the way, she hopes to dedicate a great portion of time to her sewing blog (readytoswear.com) and being more physically active.

In the long run, Mason hopes to have a creative job that she thoroughly enjoys. She has a always planned on owning creating her own business. She also hopes to have become fluent in Japanese, traveled extensively, and continued to improve her skills and knowledge.

Whether it be designing, blogging or teaching, as long as she is in a creative position, she will be over the moon.

Writer Susan Rentodo, Photographer Anna Droddy, Model Taylor Courtney, HMUA Alexa Lewis, Layout Marley Crawford

Ruby Meza

Ruby Meza is from Los Angeles, California, although she doesn’t feel as though she paid much attention to the fashion scene there. While she changed her mind a lot on what she wanted to do — even training to become an EMT before she graduated high school — she realized that something wasn’t quite right. Her love for fashion eventually caused her to transfer to Textiles and Apparel in her junior year of college. Although she misses studying medicine, Ruby feels blessed for all of the opportunities and mentors that she’s had in both fields of study.

While she doesn’t necessarily have a favorite fashion designer, she loves Coco Chanel. Chanel’s refusal to accept the norm and instead stand by her own vision inspired her when she was younger. However, Ruby tries not to look at other designers’ works because she doesn’t want to be too influenced by their designs.

Instead, when designing a collection, she usually tends to think about the future and what she would like it to look like. Specifically, she hopes that the future includes humanity’s travel to space and their creation of multiple colonies throughout the solar system. Her biggest inspirations growing up were Sally Ride and Mae Jemison.

In contrast, her collection, FLOW, looks to the open ocean rather than the stars. Ruby admires the ocean’s ability to be simultaneously terrifying and calm at the same time. She believes the ocean holds a gentle strength and movement that she hopes to show in her own collection.

In the future, she hopes to be an established designer in California, taking equestrian lessons on the weekends and kung fu lessons in the evenings. Right now, she is also a part of the equestrian team and dedicates a lot of her Saturdays to horseback riding and barn work.

However, she also loves enjoying a calm morning with her boyfriend over breakfast before heading to work.

For Ruby, fashion does not mean much, but design means everything. She has always searched for meaning in everything she has done. In medicine, she found meaning in dedicating her life to helping others. In physics, she found meaning in discovering the greater truths of our universe. But in design, she found meaning in the realization that all humans, in some form, can create something. Whether it’s ideas, clothing or children, Ruby believes that humans were created to create.

Writer Nikki LaSalla, Photographer Marybeth Schmidt, Models Genevieve Miller, Sarah Tran, HMUA Natalie Arriaga, Layout Marley Crawford

Brian Park

High on the stage, one by one on a white platform they move stiff and fast, with intricate designs and solemn faces. Not of hurt, not of pain, but rather fixed in subtly ravenous expression. Detailed hands have created a living canvas for many to admire. So much power has this dimmed scene that it has cause to inspire, such as it did for Brian Park. It was in this arena that after nearly a semester and a half of studies had come and gone that Brian decided to make his mark in the Textiles and Apparel department at the University of Texas at Austin.

Although he was introduced to world in Texas, Brian spent most of his early years in South Korea. This mix of influences and environments has allowed him to be diverse in his style and given him insight about how fashion varies cross-culturally. Prior to his Texan homecoming and involvement in UT’s fashion scene, he had an inclination to be part of the creative community, being especially inspired by traditional Asian clothing.

In tune with tradition, Brian’s collection was brought to life by the dark, menacing atmosphere that is film noir. The mood he sought to incorporate was that of the black and white era in the ‘40s and ‘60s, giving his

creation both a classic, yet pessimistic look. A designer in tune with his environment, as Brian sought to create his works, he surrounded his workspace with classic films and records of the ‘50s.

In his experience, linen as a textile has prevailed and is a favorite of Brian’s. The diversity of the material—the sleekness of it when tamed, the unruly when wrinkled, and the increasing chic as it ages—draws Brian to the cloth, and by it he remains faithful. Yet another inspiration for Brian are designers Raf Simons and Givenchy, though contrasting in their art. Particularly drawn to the former, Brian admires the ingenuity and innovation that Raf exudes, and in most his passion for fashion as is expressed in a film about him and his art.

Undoubtedly, passion will drive anyone farther than planning for the future ever could, and such is the way with Brian. Although the details have not all be quite ironed out, a world of opportunities and open doors awaits. And much like his favorite textile, will be the perfect fit for any occasion, and is undeniably unique in how its full potential is revealed as time wears on.

Writer Ivanna English, Photographer Marybeth Schmidt, Model Kelsey Hendershot, HMUA Amanda MacFarlane, Layout Kelsey Jones

Melina Perez

Spending her youth in New York, the U.S.’s fashion capital, Melina Perez has always sought to create. Her hands were always frenzied, and if they were not gliding across a sketchbook, they were found sewing small plush pillows alongside her great grandmother. As the years would have it, her family moved from their closeknit Dominican community in Washington Heights, NY, down to the southernmost tip of Texas. Behind, she left her community, her favorite past-time of 42nd street window shopping with her mom, and her involvement with the fashion scene.

The creative in her was subdued by the belief that students should pursue work in a “practical” field, or rather, something in STEM. When Melina decided to attend the University of Texas at Austin, she enrolled as a pre-medical student. However, during an exchange with her advanced calculus professor in which he noted Melina’s unique sense of style, he presented a different, and perhaps more apt pathway: the Textiles and Apparel department. Her eyes were opened to the fashion community on campus, particularly the University Fashion Group. It took only one meeting with UFG for her to discover that after many years, she had finally returned to her community of varying creatives.

Since finding her place, Melina has flourished and thrived as a student and creative. She has come a long way since her pre-med days and is in-tune with the oncampus fashion scene as a model and former writer for Spark Magazine, and an active member of UFG.

Outside class, she engages in pole dancing – an invigorating and empowering sport – and spends time with her best friend as they jam to pop-punk and work on their publication, The Audacity.

To Melina, fashion is a lot about being brave and being unapologetically yourself, which Melina showcases in her work. Taking inspiration from classic looks, a piece in her collection holds deep ties with her Dominican roots, which is her way of paying homage to her family and heritage. With her culture as an everyday influence and a tinge of homesickness, her creations come with great symbolism and meaning. A vibrant, fiery red twopiece is presented as Melina’s activewear, a perfect piece to be worn at the Dominican Carnival, and is paired with an original mask sent to Melina from the motherland from her grandmother. With flowing cloth and taking inspiration from the creatures of the marine from Valerian, her light-hearted, fluid aqua piece is the water that embraces the Dominican Republic.

Although her original plan was to tend to the human body as a doctor, she still practices this art by decorating the body with her creations. An ambitious artist, the future holds many opportunities for Melina. Her aspirations are destined to take her back to New York. Her dedication to The Audacity may just be her big break, and she may also be found to be a catalyzing agent for various activist and social justice movements in her community. Despite the uncertainty of the future, every day will come closer to witnessing her dreams come to fruition.

Writer Ivanna English, Photographer Johnny Vo, Models Ebanie Griffith, Sydney Smith, HMUA Cameron Polonet, Layout Kelsey Jones

Becky Phung

Becky Phung is from Houston. Although she says her hometown didn’t particularly persuade her to study fashion design, it is her memories and personal experiences that serve as Becky’s biggest inspiration for her designs.

Presently, however, Becky is learning that she’s interested in more than solely apparel design; rather, she’s intrigued by the fashion industry’s diamond-like multifacetedness.

“I think the most important parts of the diamond are the details you can’t see,” Becky says. “How it’s extracted, who was involved in its development, and where it came from.”

Her Dimension line drew inspiration from Becky’s past. Specifically, her grandmother’s flowered pajamas serve as the basis for the garments. Becky also wanted to combine these PJs with the act of grocery shopping, a customary chore she warmly remembers doing with her grandmother. Becky then took this inspiration and paired it with vinyl jackets, wanting to convey the story of a “group of friends at a pajama party who needs to go to the grocery store to pick something up in the middle of the night.”

As for Becky’s overall style, she says she doesn’t gravitate toward any specific topic when designing. Instead, she draws inspiration from her own experiences, but with

the goal to utilize a fresh style or different technique with each new project she undertakes. Indeed, her thirst for innovation is apparent even in her plans for the future. Although she admits she doesn’t precisely know what’s in store for her, she says never wants to stop learning new things. Becky also says she plans to work in the fashion industry for a while, but return to school to learn more — or vice versa.

To Becky, fashion’s worth manifests itself as a subtle way to show how one feels. To her, it’s the best way to express her mood, whether the garment be what Becky decides to wear for the day or if she designs an ensemble for someone else. Although she confesses that she prioritizes price when shopping for anything, she says she has a better appreciation for the artistic elements behind fashion since studying at UT. When Becky isn’t in the designing lab, she can be found watching Netflix, taking care of her foster cat, cooking or hanging with friends and family. Whether musing over her adoration for the muslin or the fashion label Patagonia, Becky’s passion for design is unequivocal. Becky’s natural talent and insatiable curiosity are mere facets to her diamond that shines just slightly less fervently than her future.

Writer Aiden Park, Photographer Johnny Vo, Models Robert Diaz, Nirusha Yogarajah, HMUA Natalie Arriaga, Layout Tristan Ipock

Cambry Prichard

Originally from Erie, Colorado, Cambry Prichard sought out warmer weather here in Austin. While first attending the University of Texas at Austin, she was unsure of the direction she wanted to go with her education. With full support from her mother to pursue what she wanted, she decided to focus on her creative side. Enrolling in her first Textile and Apparel course, “Clothing the Planet,” her interest in fashion was hooked.

She decided to major in TXA to learn what avenue was the best for her. Initially she explored retail merchandising but switched to design her junior year and can now comfortably see her future within this field.

The first set of design classes she took allowed her to create something entirely her own and freely express her creativity. Feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment with each assignment and project, the design avenue of fashion seemed a more promising fit.

As she progressed through the program and networked with various professors, she felt enough support from to pursue completing a collection. However, despite her accomplishments in the design program, she was still unsure if design would be right for her.

Through various independent studies and the departmental honors program, Cambry has explored nanotechnology in the apparel industry and studied embroidery design within four different cultures that still practice this method in their traditional clothing. Inspired by the structured menswear created by avant-garde Japanese

designer Yohji Yamamoto and dark but saturated color tones, her collection reflects similar aspects.

Her collection portrays a story that takes place in an almost apocalyptic, post-World War III dystopia, where a group of survivors discovers old military uniforms and repurposes them into new garments. Each ensemble plays with conflicting structures and textures of fabrics.

She has creatively combined draped tulle and structured cottons to create three unique designs. Her focus for her collection is on outerwear and jackets created from her favorite textile, cotton.

Although she still doesn’t have all the answers, and is unsure if she’ll be designing and tailoring garments when she graduates, she’s explored enough creative avenues within the fashion industry to know that design is an apt field for her. Having taken the time to explore in-depth research, complete the departmental honors program, and intern at Kick Pleat, Cambry is sure to excel in the fashion-design world no matter what area she decides to pursue. She plans to further her education after graduating to explore masters programs, possibly in textile engineering or textile research. Luckily for her, the fashion industry is constantly presenting new opportunities, never allowing anyone to be stuck in committing to one area of expertise. However, in a perfect world, she holds onto the dream that she will work side-by-side with her favorite designer, Yamamoto, designing avant garde collections and exploring creative textile finishes.

Writer Jessica Teran, Photographer Abby Raffle, Model Ivanna English HMUA Jessica Teran, Layout Tristan Ipock

Clare Robinson

Clare Robinson is from Lubbock, Texas. Ever since her youth, she has been attracted to the glamourous world of fashion and designers. In high school, she would doodle in the margins of her notebook. Little did Clare know that those doodles would eventually become a reality and define her future.

When Clare is not being inspired by her surroundings and creating her desings, she enjoys spending time with her friends, watching movies, listening to music, and exploring new things. Clare derives her inspiration from the idea of exploration. She is inspired by the notion that experience and perspective can be obtained by pursuing new things. She particularly emphasizes the need and desire to travel, read and meet new people.

Her designs are a reflection of the way in which she sees the world and the places she has visited. Building relationships with other people is important for Clare and her designs are inspired by those bonds. Clare sees fashion as a form of expression which channels emotions.

She sees fashion as a way to be both individualistic and communal, because it is a way to be distinct and trendy.

As for Clare’s favorite textile to design with, she says that would choose a supple wool cashmere. She chose cashmere because she likes the softness of the fabric, the

variety of colors, and its ability to hold shape. Shape is a major focus of Clare’s design. Most of Clare’s designs are inspired by art and different periods. Picasso’s Cubism is one of the concepts that she uses in her projects.

Her designs reflect an influence of squares and geometric shapes. This appeal to Cubism was inspired by Picasso’s and Braque’s paintings. To offset the geometry, she balanced the shapes with bias drape silhouettes.

Clare sees fashion as a way to connect with people. She finds her connections through shapes and figures. She expresses new concepts and creates new ideas through her designs. She likes to think that each person has their individual style, but fashion brings everyone together.

Although what lies ahead is unknown, Clare sees herself pursuing a graduate degree in design or merchandising.

She guides her life in the same way she guides her designs. She has a rough idea of what she wants to do, and she is willing to adapt the design of her life to the opportunities that cross her path. The same inspiration that attracted her to the glamor of the fashion world and designers today pulls her toward the fashion capitals such as New York and London. Whether a graduate degree or a career in the busy streets of New York, Clare’s desire to explore and inspire others with her fashion will take her far.

Writer Maria Fernanda, Photographer Nikki LaSalla, Model Srija Seenivasan, HMUA Paola Mena, Layout Nura Bawab

Lindsay Stewart

Lindsay Stewart grew up in Lockney, Texas, whose motto is “Just a little spot, but we care a lot.” A small town in Texas, Lockney doesn’t even have a Walmart or McDonalds; therefore, Lindsay often found herself having to create her own entertainment. Trying to find a creative outlet, Lindsay started making sketches of clothing as a hobby in third grade. By the time she got to high school she started altering thrift clothes and making her very own Halloween and theater costumes.

Initially, Lindsay pursued a career in architecture; however, she soon discovered she was passionate about visual communications, which led her to projects in sculpting and drawing. It was then that she decided to take a product development class where she was able to draw and develop and plan theoretical design collections. After a few weeks of taking this class and remembering those moments that began in third grade, Lindsay knew what she wanted to do: she was meant to be a designer.

When Lindsay is not working to maker unique designs, she likes to travel and spend time with the people she loves. She enjoys baking, being active, eating out, and working on personal sewing projects. If she had to choose a favorite fabric, Lindsay says that she would choose micro knit because it has good volume and is fun to sew. She enjoys working with the micro knit because it can be comfortable and provides a lot of possibilities.

She is currently inspired by the materials for her collection in which she sees endless possibilities. Lindsay

looks up to Madame Gres for her genius fabric manipulation, Balmain for the empowering power-silhouettes, Stella McCartney for her ethical pioneering prints, and A Detacher for the elevated wearability. Lindsay’s applies the best qualities that she finds in these designers into her own designs. Moreover, Lindsay uses humans as inspiration. She uses the complexity of our bodies, diversity, and animal nature uniquely intertwined with high intelligence as a source of inspiration. Her goal is to capture the structured, yet messy, human form into a three piece collection. She wants to celebrate the sensuality and beauty of human beings in a way that is still functional and wearable.

Lindsay does not only see functionality in fashion; she sees fashion as a means of self expression and care. For her, it is a layer of person that can visually display their personality and bring comfort and confidence into their lives. On a broader level, through the eyes of a designer, fashion for Lindsay is a fluid experiment to push boundaries, generate emotion, influence culture, and improve what has been established. Lindsay’s slow-paced town ingrained in her a sense of practicality, but it also forced her to push herself out of her comfort zone.

In the future, Lindsay sees herself getting an internship in California and working in product development for the next few years before launching her very own project.

She says her line will include designs that are functional and empowering; qualities that are easily traceable in her unique designs in Dimension.

Writer Maria Fernanda, Photographer Joyce Trong, Model Gabby Tan, HMUA Mariah Becerra, Layout Nura Bawab

Jessica Teran

Hot tea with two teaspoons of agave and one teaspoon elderberry, six egg whites, and at least an hour and a half at the gym before diving into a good book while listening to vinyls: that’s a typical morning for senior designer Jessica Teran. Whereas most college students find themselves wandering through life aimlessly, Jessica takes solace in having a purpose. When asked where she’d like to be in 10 years, she answers, “Hopefully, with a masters degree in either public relations or journalism. I would like to be well established within my field of work, writing and publishing articles and successfully helping to market a big designer name and brand.” That drive and routine displayed in both of these details speaks to her work ethic. Not only is she a senior designer, she is also currently juggling 16 hours of class, and two jobs; a feat few college students would attempt.

For her, fashion was never an inherent passion. Instead, she had a complicated relationship with fashion and body image until her last year of high school, when she lost weight and began to see clothing in a new light. That personal experience shapes the way she approaches fashion. To Jessica, the beauty of fashion lies within its lack of rules and consequences. When asked how fashion plays into our perception of ourselves, she replied, “I’m a strong supporter of your body, your rules. People should wear what they want and what they’re happy in. You want to wear less, wear less. You

wanna wear more, wear more. I think there’s too much pressure in fashion to be trendy and to shrink yourself down into just one style label. I honestly don’t pay that much attention to what everyone wears on a daily basis and people should express themselves freely in whatever threads they choose.” She finds herself gravitating toward a minimalist style, especially that of Shaina Mote, who embraces timeless silhouettes with basic and minimal pieces.

While Shaina Mote collections are typically geared toward modern basics for the everyday consumer, Jessica’s collection takes minimalism in a different direction. Inspired by the CW’s The 100, she held onto the apocalyptic and futuristic elements while creating the piece with the intention of it being for the everyday consumer.

Simplicity and utility are key themes throughout both Jessica’s designs and her life. Visiting art exhibits, thrift shops, painting, or taking art classes are all ways that she remains in the present and takes joy in the simple charms of life.

Although Jessica has a tremendous work ethic, her attitude toward fashion is a little more forgiving. Jessica says fashion is what makes you happy. If you want to wear less, wear less. To Jessica, fashion isn’t defined by trends; it’s defined by the level of expression it allows someone.

Writer Rachel Luo, Photographer Joyce Tong, Model Ron Wayne, HMUA Jessica Teran, Layout Sydney Bui

Giselle Villarreal

“Remember me, for even if I’m far away I hold you in my heart.” For those of you who aren’t die-hard Disney fans, that’s a line from Coco’s “Remember Me.” It’s also one of Giselle Villarreal’s favorite songs. Lively, bright and fun, the song seems to capture Giselle’s personality and the spirit of her designs. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California maintains a place in her heart and is the inspiration behind her love of design and many of her collections.

Giselle’s love of designing stemmed from a childhood full of custom-made clothing, courtesy of her grandmother who was a seamstress. That passion grew and eventually led her to an unexpected internship at Lucky Brand in L.A. Although she was initially hesitant, as she had previously fallen in love with the intricate designs of Valentino and Christian Siriano, she found herself pleasantly surprised. At Lucky Brand, she relished the simplicity and varied uses of denim, which is reflected in several of her collections. Giselle also discovered her place within the fashion industry: product development, which she defined as “solving problems and still having some artistic input.” That role aligns with the path she’s taken through life, one in which she values hard work and is aware of the dif-

ficulties that come with pursuing a career in fashion.

All the same, she loves fashion because to her, fashion is a means of expression. It is how you want the world to perceive you, and it is a statement of personality.

In her own collection, she is inspired by the people in her life and the places she’s had the opportunity to visit. Most recently, she was in London. Wandering through Camden Market and David Bowie’s suburb of London, Brixton, she found inspiration in the street style. She also had the chance to visit Florence, where she saw Frida Kahlo’s “Autorretrato con collar de espinas.” The sprawling trees of the rainforest inspired the textures of her bridal collection. She pulls from these inspirations to create pieces that are timeless and classic; however, she’ll never forget her Californian roots, as it will always occupy a place in her work.

First-generation Latina, president of University Fashion Group (the organization that produces the senior design fashion show), an incredibly talented senior designer: all of these are facets of who Giselle Villarreal is. But they’re merely labels that speak to a fraction of what her designs reflect: the vibrant, strong-willed designer that is Giselle Villarreal.

Writer Rachel Luo, Photographer Abby Raffle, Models Ivanna English, Nina Putlak, HMUA Jenna Campbell, Layout Sydney Bui

Ellie Wendland

Ellie Wendland is from Allen, Texas. From the moment her parents gave her a miniature mannequin and some fabric samples as a child, she knew she wanted to go into design. Living in the Dallas suburbs meant Ellie could grow up attending the exquisite art museums and peruse the world-class shops that the city has to offer, all the while cultivating a keen eye for fashion and elegant design.

Fashion has always been an important component in Ellie’s life. She loves to incorporate art and flowers into her work whenever possible, drawing on the elements of nature and relaying that onto a design. “To me fashion is a very tangible form of art,” Ellie says. “You can touch it and wear it and yet it expresses the same innermost thoughts that a painting or other work of art does.”

In her work and her collection Ellie drew inspiration from abstract expressionist painter Clyfford Still, whose

use of color and shapes influenced her work and her designs, such as streaks of vibrant yellow and his motif of cobalt blue.

Ellie also attributes her design success to the encouragement and support of her parents. Naming her mom as one of her biggest influences in life, Ellie says that she herself is an artist, and both her parents encouraged her from a young age to explore her creative side and to passionately seek out a fulfilling career in the arts.

In her free time, Ellie loves to live up the Austin lifestyle of brunching, hiking, becoming a margarita expert and dog watching. On any given Saturday you can spot her most likely eating at Hillside Farmacy and then on the Town Lake trails where she’s likely to pet every dog in sight. After graduation in May, Ellie hopes to be working in New York City as a fashion editor for a magazine, and to continue her lifelong passion for petting dogs.

Writer Kaylon Hicks, Photographer Peter McCain, Model Lynette Adkins, HMUA Cameron Young, Layout Maya Haws-Shaddock

Hannah Wilmeth

Hannah Wilmeth is from Lubbock, Texas. She first fell in love with fashion design at age 11, when her mother and grandmother helped Hannah make a costume for Halloween. She loved seeing her idea become a reality.

Lubbock hosts a large sewing community, according to Hannah. She was able to work in a sewing studio throughout high school, learning different sewing techniques and how to use different machines. She also learned about the process of making clothing through her grandparents and their cotton farm, supplementing what she has learned in classes.

“My grandparents own a cotton farm out in West Texas, so I have grown up learning about cotton from the farmer’s point of view,” Hannah says. “School has taught me about the design-side of textiles and how cotton is made from fiber to fabric. [With that], I think that I have a more holistic view of what it takes to make clothing because of my upbringing.”

Hannah’s biggest inspiration comes from her Christian faith. She wants her collection to show the beauty and love that she sees in the Gospel and in the personhood of Jesus, she says. Her collection is also inspired by

the monarch butterfly and the transformation that comes from metamorphosis. She loves the idea that a caterpillar builds its own cocoon, becoming something new and more beautiful over time.

Outside of that, Hannah finds most of her inspiration from the natural world around her, whether that be the outdoors or just those with whom she interacts. She also strives for sustainability in her designs, like her favorite label, Patagonia.

“I have a heart for sustainability, and I desire to create and design in a way that honors the world and the people in it,” she says.

To Hannah, fashion is a form of expression, something that should be fun without consuming all of our attention. She believes fashion should inspire confidence and comfort, from the beginning to the end of the supply chain.

After graduation, Hannah hopes to work for a nonprofit in event planning.

Writer Abigail Rosenthal, Photographer Rachel Luo, Model Julia Vastano, HMUA Julia Vastano, Layout Kalissa White