The Fashion Network Fall 2023 | Issue 12

A Taste of Camp, Photographed by Khoi Pham

On The Front Cover

Sophia Tuisl, A Taste of Camp

Photographed by Kimberly Seeley

A sincere thank you to The Illini Union, Siebel Center for Design, Allerton Park & Retreat Center, The Art & Design Builidng, & J&E Homestead for allowing TFN to use their spaces during the FA23 season.

THE FASHION NETWORK UIUC

FALL 2023

1

5

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A letter from TFN SP23-FA23 President, William Hohe

11

Burlesque in Berlin

The Fashion Network’s first photoshoot of the FA23 season, conducted in The Illini Union.

51 Crediting Index

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Ethereal Auras

The Fashion Network’s second photoshoot of the FA23 season, conducted at Allerton Park & Retreat Center.

93 Crediting Index

95 Southern Goth

The Fashion Network’s third photoshoot of the FA23 season, conducted in J&E Homestead.

139 Crediting Index

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A Taste of Camp

The Fashion Network’s fourth photoshoot of the FA23 season, conducted at the Art & Design Building of UIUC.

173

Crediting Index

175

The Circular Fashion Exposition

The third CFE, University of Illinois’ largest fashion event; powered by The Fashion Network in partnership with the Siebel Center for Design (SCD). Featuring interviews with Design Competition winners; Ariana Cook, Yuviliz Gonzalez, and Taski Velasquez.

197

Crediting Index

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Alumni Spotlight

UIUC 2023 graduate Aliyah Philip, The Fashion Network’s 2022 Creative Director of Styling and Design returns to the magazine to reflect on her TFN term with an interview conducted by Editor-In-Chief, Monique Robinson.

214

Crediting Index

Dear TFN Community,

We are speaking on behalf of all on the executive board, on a matter that has been brought to our attention in the past few weeks. In light of the development of the Circular Fashion Expo (CFE.4) and in the ongoing pursuits of The Fashion Network (TFN), we have been notified of racist remarks, creative restrictions, mismanagement of power, and an overall lack of inclusivity in spaces created by one of our executive board members. With that being said, an internal conversation and investigation has taken place, and we have figured out the facts and pieced together a multitude of narratives brought to us by general members (who will remain anonymous at this time) and executive board members who voiced their concerns. We are deeply saddened and disappointed beyond belief in these facts that were brought to us from many brave and considerate individuals. First, we want to say that this person has been dismissed from the TFN and CFE executive board, effective immediately, and will not be invited nor included in TFN or CFE moving forward. However, we wanted to take the time to acknowledge and apologize for the harm that has been done by a member from our executive board, as so many TFN and broader community members have worked with us in the likes of the Circular Fashion Expo and beyond.

Racism, sexual harassment, abuse of power, villainization, religious/cultural appropriation, malicious gossip, and overall unprofessional and unforgivable behavior done by this executive board member was not and will not be taken lightly. We hope that this statement will not only bring past and present members of The Fashion Network peace, but acknowledge that we as an executive board are here for you and your creative visions.

TFN and CFE are some of the largest organizations and events on UIUC’s campus and thus need to be representative of the diverse student body that it speaks and expresses itself through. We do not condone any of the inexcusable acts that were done by this individual. We know that there may be many more stories to be shared and we want to assure you that any and all can come forward to speak with executive board members on these matters in hopes that we can heal as a creative collective and as students.

We deeply apologize to any and all who were offended, hurt, mistreated, disrespected, or shied away from being involved with TN because of this individual. This person does not represent TFN as a whole, the executive board, or the mission of our organization and we are working to rebuild relationships with each one of you.

We thank any and all people who were involved in uncovering these violent comments and disgusting behaviors, and hope that all who are victims to this individual’s agenda know that we do not stand with their inappropriate behaviors. We will continue to work to foster a more inclusive, diverse, and creative space in the fashion world and beyond. Thank you for your time and for reading this statement. If you have any information or stories you would like to share, please refrain from commenting on this post and please email tfnuiuc@gmail.com. Additionally, if you need to speak with any member from the TFN/CFE executive board, we welcome you to reach out. Thank you all and we look forward to continuing to work with so many people on campus and creative students alike.

Sincerely,

The Fashion Network Executive Board, FA23

The Fashion Network/Circular Fashion Exposition Executive Board/Fall 2023

Mia Barletti, Styling Head

Sam Crutcher, Set Director

Dalila Divanovic, Blog Director

Karla De La Cerda, Makeup Director

Francesca Dumitrescu, Photo/Video Director

Taychelle Glen, Co-Fashion Director

Kellen Gallagher, Styling Head

William Hohe, President of TFN & Lead Organizer of CFE.4

Anu Kherlen, Financial Director

Alex Limov, Marketing Director

Cece Lopez, Co-Fashion Director

Darina Lubenov, Copy Editor

Monique Robinson, Editor In Chief & Co-Chair of the Art Installation

Thomas Sanders, Operations Director & Director of the Vending Event

Naina Shankar, Commerce Director & Lead of the Clothing Swap

Samantha Simmons, Events Director & Management Lead

Olivia Sims, Creative Director of Design & CFE.4 Art & Design Lead

Samridhi Verma, Co-HR Director

Arianna Winters, Co-HR Director

The Circular Fashion Expo, CFE.4 Finale, Executive Board Members

Photographed by Matt Stepp

Happiness is felt when doing what lights you up, the very thought of it makes you excited, feel something, and diminishes the perception of time. Happiness is being fully immersed within the present moment, the type of submersion that you’ll come to value more looking back on it than experiencing it then and there, when you forget to take the action into account in relation to time.

Happiness is doing what you love.

No matter how complex, grand, miniscule, or ‘insignificant’ it may be compared to the the vast scale of the universe as we know it to be, the signifiance of what makes you happy does not depend on the size, nor does it rely on the opinions of others. Happiness is doing what you know to love unapologetically, confidently, and nearly naturally. It is intuitive, it is already within you, it is listening to the voice in your head that is telling you to pursue that thing, take the chance and experience that interest, or explore what you’ve been enticed by. It is acting on the dream you have held onto since childhood and the flutter of excitment, thrill, that rises within your body when it is mentioned, when you put in the work, and engage with something you truly enjoy. It is an immediate yes, with little to no hesitation to pass it up. It is what you can’t pass up without experiencing, while remaining open-minded to things and percpetions you’re due to fall in love with without knowing it yet.

The Fashion Network & The Circular Fashion Exposition allowed me to bond with my sense of self I haden’t previously given attention to, to the extent I had wanted to, who has forever been encapsulated by the imaginative qualities and limitless creative possibilities fashion withholds. This organization nurtures a community of creatives I am grateful to have encountered and befriend during my time as an active member; modeling, writing, designing, to then upholding the responsibility of this magazine for two semesters, while crafting and maintaining a visual identity of the organization and event. I feel honored to have been trusted with the branding and visual representation of such a unique space for this university, which in return, contributed greatly to my growth and deeper sense of self.

If there is one thing you take away from Issue 12, let it stand as a tangible visual, a collection, of the uttermost creative collaboration TFN welcomes from each and every one who was involved. While this is a fashion magazine that was designed with the assistance of talented designers; Erin Yu, Madison Edwards, Nicole Vestidas, & Hallie Thomas, the message behind this issue has less to do with the aesthetics of the spreads, and more to do with the realization of gratitude that individuals of similar interests came together to make these visuals come to life. It is a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and visually seeing what it is this community was able to produce over the course of the Fall 2023 semester, and part of the Spring 2023 semester - even though it runs deeper then just the visuals. It is within the act of the creating, the hours of runway practice, a model holding a pose for minutes on end, all the components blending together to bring a photoshoot theme to life. To witness everyone bring their own interests to the forefront is such a beautiful thing to see, as each individual brings a part of themself and their own interpretation to the creative process. There would not be a magazine to document the beautiful work of the makeup artists, hair stylists, models, stylists, photographers and directors if it weren’t for all of us, all of you. It stands as proof that even while undergoing obstacles and challenges, you can choose to hold onto your bliss, learn from what arises, and continue onward creating.

Thank you for sharing your energy with The Fashion Network & The Circular Fashion Expo this Spring 2023 & Fall 2023 season, it is because of you that this creative space is more then the organization says to be, it’s an outlet to connect with, discover, and exercise your passions or interests and other creatives while doing so. I applaud all those who dedicated energy

into bringing their visions to life, and thank you for sharing with a community. This issue was designed with the intention to bring light to different styles, designing techniques, and aesthetics of different individuals - coming together to create art. Your own interpretation of what is considered beautiful and significant, your own design process, your unique visions, are all gifts, and should never be hindered or squandered in the creative process. You all contribute in your own unique way, with your own interests and artistic styles. I encourage you to continue bringing your style to the table, whether it’s for this organization or in life. I encourage you to develop your own opinions and look to bring your visions to life even if it hasen’t been seen before.

If there is anything you take away from me - listen to your heart, your gut, do what makes you lose track of time, and follow your bliss. My time as the design lead for TFN & CFE was a period of time where I was simply doing what I love, and I am glad to have been able to share some design knowledge with other graphic designers. You have the power to make the most of whatever it is you are involved in. If you want it, by all means get it. There is no one with a story like yours, with a path like yours, with a mind like yours, with visions like yours. Share with the world, be confident in what you offer and who you are.

Thank you for having me as your Creative Director of Design, may Issue 12 communicate more then what is on the pages. I send my love, positive energy, and sincere gratitude to have crossed paths at this time and place with each and every one of you, those within the TFN & CFE community and fellow executive members, my friends, may the universe always work in your favor.

You are the universe, be who you want to be in this life. Follow your bliss & stay curious.

Olivia Sims

TFN Creative Director of Design SP23-FA23

William Hohe, President’s Letter/Fall 2023

Dear The Fashion Network,

It is with immense gratitude that I am writing my final president’s letter in the closing of my time leading this phenomenal organization. In the past weeks onboarding our new president, Alex Limov, and new lead organizer of CFE, Sam Crutcher, I have often been reminded of where my journey started with TFN.

I began my time in The Fashion Network on a whim, seeing the likes of former president, Jessie Peng, and former Photography Director, Isabelle Zhao, at Quad Day my freshman year. Intrigued with the club, I departed for the first shoot, “Modern Western”, with Photography/Videography director and dear friend, Francesca Dumitrescu, unbeknownst to me how important this first shoot would be to my collegiate and professional trajectory.

The immediate sense of creative energy and camaraderie was palpable. In the middle of the south campus fields on a beautiful September day, myself, Francesca, and a plethora of TFN members, who would become some of my closest friends and creative partners in retrospect, departed on a creative pursuit. I felt free and accepted into a creative community that I was yearning and craving to find within the confines of UIUC.

It was a privilege to experience this once, but a true honor to then become an executive board member the following semester. A major thank you goes to Isabelle Zhao for trusting and selecting me to carry on her legacy in TFN.

Fast forward to the spring and working with former president, Rebekah Phaiboun, executive members, Avery Nims and Aliyah Philip, amongst so many other fabulous creative leaders on this campus, I was strongly shaped by the organization, precedent, and ambition set out by our growing executive board. The Spring of 2022 also saw the incorporation of The Circular Fashion Expo (CFE), in its first iteration, at the Siebel Center of Design (SCD), which began the crazed growth of TFN from a once more casual, impromptu collective to a powerful force of creative individuals that shape the mold of fashion, style, and runway on this campus.

It’s hard to distinguish what the best part of the club is, whether it be photoshoots, socials, a casual conversation with another member while waiting at the bus station, or seeing a familiar face while in Chicago or elsewhere. I will always have a soft spot for CFE, the entirety of the TFN executive board(s), Josh Jay James, and the hundreds of individuals who have trusted that vision in its 4 consecutive versions. It remains an event that symbolizes the power of community, art, fashion, and circularity in motion while also providing a symbol of hard work, problem-solving, and sacrificing one’s interests for the communal, collaborative perspective on what’s possible for fashion and the future, even amidst the rural landscape of central Illinois.

This brought me to the role of president of TFN, which saw a brand-new executive board, a third and fourth iteration of CFE to follow up to, and a 500+ member organization, with countless other attendees and supporters outside the realm of direct involvement to integrate into 2023. With that in mind, the year’s work was not an easy pill to swallow, let alone this being one of the most challenging executive/leadership positions I have personally held in my life thus far.

I am forever appreciative and grateful to the lovely 2023 TFN Executive Board. Working alongside Sophie, Nolan, Alyssa, Olivia, Francesca, Khoi, Thomas, Anu, Naina, Cece, Taychelle, Monique, Dalila, Darina, Samridhi, Arianna, Mia, Karla, and so many others not only showcased the power of community amidst some of the most stressful and hardworking weeks, prepping shoots whilst simultaneously outputting things for CFE, but illuminated to me how strong a creative community can be.

Serving as president has taught me so much, and I have been inspired by so many who have led, taught, and impacted my approach to creative direction and collaboration that I would feel silly leaving this letter without some words of wisdom.

All good things, I believe, come in 3. Serving on the TFN executive board and being part of TFN for 3 years has taught me

the following:

1. Strength in numbers: You are nothing without those around you. Leading TFN, I am as important as the newest member of our lovely network. Without each and every one of the 500+ faces that comprise the club, there would be no TFN. I am indebted to each friend I have met along the way who pushed me to continue spreading, sharing, and collaborating throughout the past 3 years.

2. Impact on others: It’s a funny thing to realize that the reach of TFN goes far beyond the models, stylists, photographers, and artists that comprise each shoot. It’s even more brilliant to see how impactful CFE has been on other colleges, communities, and spaces beyond Champaign-Urbana. The impact of TFN, CFE, and the culture that is created within these spaces and events does not go unnoticed and there lies a responsibility to each other to execute and deliver something new and brilliant every time, no matter how successful or beautifully fallible the idea might be.

3. Intuition and self-belief: When I did not believe in myself, in my moments of doubt, stress, and failure, I could always count on TFN to have my back and bolster me, as a leader, as an artist, and as a human. The feeling of leading a community such as ours and having the support of veteran members and newcomers alike is something I hold with immense honor and gratitude that I shall forever carry with me.

I often think about where I would be if I hadn’t chosen to listen to Isabelle during the first few days of freshman year. I thank that 18-year-old version of me for seeing something sparkly on the other side of the 3 monogrammed letters spelling out “T..F..N” and I am proud every day of what we have done, what we continue to create, and see what becomes of this lovely organization.

And so, I leave you with this.

“People respond well to those that are sure of what they want.” – Anna Wintour

I often regard Miss Wintour as a chilling presence of leadership in fashion. Yet, I hope to leave you with something less frigid. What I hope to leave you with in my term here is not my love of maximalism, adoration for the unknown, or ability to juggle a CFE, 4 photoshoots, and a publication at once. I hope I showed you a sign of integrity, authenticity, and intuition, because even when I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted, you all believed in me, regardless of the work that lay ahead of us.

Be sure of yourself, and others will find you, follow, and entrust in you.

There is no greater honor than to be part of this artistic, creative, and esoteric community. I will forever thank you for the hurdles, habits, and amazing memories that I reminisce about while bidding farewell to this presidency. Thank you for your trust, your passion, and for your belief. Here’s to the future, to fashion, and the impact that TFN, CFE, and our collaborative love of style has on this campus and beyond.

Endless love & forever a friend,

William Hohe

In This Shoot

Shoot One Crediting

Makeup

Artists

Sasha Bachleda, Nina Camarillo, Karla De La Cerda, Hannah Chen, Alain Gurgone, Devan Jones, Vidhi Lodha, Owen Mastroianni, Rachel Oh, Allison Palomar, Karli Shockley, Julia Swartz, Jai Torres, Ellen Tuttle, Allison Vogelmeier

Stylists

Sierra Arnold, Adam Atrix, Jake Besic, Rosa Brancati, Micheala Burrows, Emma Casey, Audrey Chung, Isabella Donoso, Dominique Farag, Kayla Figures, Eva Grein, Michelle Guevara, Alma Gyabin, Heraldo Hermosillo, Richard Huang, Zachary James, Grace Jung, Ava Kolodziej, Claire Margaglione, Mia Munoz, Vama Naik, Faraji Ogwal, Deekshitha Paruchuri, Shreya Patil, Iris Petrova, Elsa Tolla, Ellie Vanecko, Amy Wang, Joshua Watson, Arianna Winters, Avisha Yerramilli

Models

Isaac Alvarez, Abigail Anokye, Aarushi Bafna, Audrie Ballard, Michael Curshellas, Diego Gonzalez-Solsona, Jillian Grabowski, Kyriaki Karavasis, Cayleigh Kissinger, Avah Kizilbash, Aviva Kril, Sharika Majeti, Courtney Mazeika, Aahana Meka, Sophie Mennenga, Mariam Pedro, Saturn Peppers, Molly Pfeifer, Sam Poglitsch, Antara Rahbar, Faith Reynolds, Y’vonne Rose, Kunal Sheth, Karli Shockley, Rex Sohanaki, Kayla Taylor, Maja Wlodarczyk, Tessa Wolf, Nethra Yuvaraj

Photographers & Videographers

Adam Bramowicz, Tiffany Chien, Madeline Kruse, Jingjin Li, Thehan Nissanka, Bianca Olson, Ucheoma Onwueyi, Anh-Khoi Pham, Damini Rana, Olivia Wallace, Hannah Wootton, Kara Yoo, Nethra Yuvaraj

Graphic Designer

Erin Yu

Writers

Elizabeth Frew

Sabrina Longo

Vivi Ruffo

Photographed by Hannah Wootton

In This Shoot

Shoot Two Crediting

Makeup Artists

Yuna Batmunkh, Hannah Chen, Alain Gurgone, Sophie Hartzheim , Devan Jones, Bianca Namuyomba, Rachel Oh, Saturn Peppers, Kunal Sheth (Hair Stylist), Isaly Gibson (Hair Stylists), Julia Swartz, Kayla Taylor

Stylists

Mahdia Amatullah, Aarushi Bafna, Audrie Ballard, Charlie Cervenka, Michael Curshellas, Jillian Grabowski, Alma Gyabin, Zoe Haritos, Caitlyn Huynh, Athena Kelly, Avah Kizilbash, Ava Kolodziej, Ava Kolodziej, Aviva Krill, Aviva Krill, Cecilia Lopez, Aahana Meka, Aahana Meka, Grace Patterson, Sophia Pizarro, Antara Rahbar, Katherine Richardson, Elsa Tolla, Sophia Tuisl, Joshua Watson, Ruphine Mafo Yongue

Models

Faith Allendorf, Evie Aschemann, Mia Bartletti, Jake Besic, A Bramowicz, Dominique Farag, Charlie Figiel, Lizzy Freidinger, Eva Grein, Grace Hunt, Sarah Joseph, Grace Jung, Athena Kelly, Sharika Majeti, Alyssa Malyvanh, Alex Moore, Thomas Chavez Moreno, Allison Palomar, Deekshitha Paruchuri, Shreya Patil, Iris Petrova, Chloe Simpson, Calin Wallace, Arianna Winters, Tessa Wolf, Claire Yung, Emily Zhou

Photographers & Videographers

Evelyn Arellano, Amartya Bhattacharya, Kyriaki Karavasis, Cayleigh Kissinger, Madeline Kruse, Giselle Mancera, Sophie Mennenga, Bianca Olson, Ucheoma Onwueyi, Regina Papadatos, Kingston Tai, Scarlett Yang, Kara Yoo, Elie Zieserl

Graphic Designer

Madison Edwards

Writers

Shehzad Bajowala

Sophie Mennenga

Photographed by Kingston Tai

In This Shoot

Shoot Three Crediting

Makeup Artists

Jolene Blodgett, Hannah Chen, Trisha Choda, Devan Jones, Vidhi Lodha, Kayla Taylor

Stylists

Faith Allendorf, Mia Bartletti, Charlie Cervenka, Michael Curshellas, Dominique Farag, Charlie Figiel, Eva Grein, Alma Gyabin, Sasha Hirschberg, Muskaan Khanna, Aviva Krill, Mila Matejcek, Samantha Moormann*, Isabella Moughal, Julia Persak, Samridhi Verma, Joshua Watson, Tessa Wolf

Models

Evie Aschemann, Micheala Burrows, Daylan Chandler, Shloaka Duvvuri, Kayla Figures, Tania Folivia, Zoe Haritos, Sasha Hirschberg, Kameron Kelly, Muskaan Khanna, Ava Kolodziej, Madison Lagasca, Livia Lin, Emma Martinez, Mila Matejcek, Lee Nguyen, Sophia Pizarro, Aryan Ravishankar, Steve Thomas, Sophia Tuisl, Ellen Tuttle, Samridhi Verma, Addy Volz, Scarlett Yang

Photographers & Videographers

A Bramowicz, Alex Aguilera, Moriah Gore, Sophie Mennenga, Bianca Olson, Kingston Tai, Olivia Wallace, Nethra Yuvaraj

Graphic Designer

Nicole Vestidas

Writers

Darina Lubenov

Featuring

Carlos Reyes

Photographed by Nethra Yuvaraj

Photographed by Francesca Dumitrescu

Photographed by Francesca Dumitrescu

In This Shoot

Shoot Four Crediting

Makeup Artists

Alain Gurgone, Lauren Hackett, Devan Jones, Sarah Joseph, Sneha Mohan, Iris Petrova (Hair Stylist), Kunal Sheth (Hair Stylist)

Models

Audrie Ballard, Micheala Burrows, Emma Chen, Michael Curshellas, Lizzy Freidinger, Eva Grein, Emily Gulliford, Cayleigh Kissinger, Madison Lagasca, Alyssa Malyvanh, Aahana Meka, Sophie Mennenga, Reyna Morton, Vama Naik, Saturn Peppers, Taski Velasquez Perez, Julia Persak, Sophia Tuisl, Samridhi Verma, Tessa Wolf, Hannah Wootton

Photographers & Videographers

A Bramowicz, Enrique Lopez, Giselle Mancera, Thehan Nissanka, Khoi Pham, Kimberley Seeley, Annie Trompeter, Olivia Wallace, Scarlett Yang, Elie Zieserl

Graphic Designer

Hallie Thomas

Writers

Sabrina Longo

Sasha Bachleda

Photographed by Khoi Pham

The Circular Fashion Exposition

CFE.3, Danse Macabre, An Allegory on Horror, May 5th, 2023

Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world.

100 billion new clothing items are produced every year, but 50% of those end up in landfill in the same year — 1 garbage truck full of clothing is dumped into landfill every second. The University of Illinois’ largest fashion event; a premiere exposition for the new generation of fashion futurists powered by The Fashion Network (TFN) in partnership with the Siebel Center for Design (SCD). The third expo, CFE.3, took place on May 5th, 2023 of the Spring 2023 season and is designed to bring all of the elements of a circular fashion system into one, epic event so that the campus community & local stakeholders can collectively create a thriving circular economy. The event featured a clothing swap, 90 vendors, 30 student artists participating in the art installation, over 12 musicians and artists, over 25 designers in

the design competition portion of the runway, over 100 models, and 10 student organizations and local businesses. The runway had performances from student organizations including The Kat Walk Modeling Agency, No Comment A Capella, and Dance 2XS UIUC alongside The Fashion Network and multiple other talented creatives throughout the day and runway segment. As a result of months of preperation, the third Circular Fashion Expo had approximately 1000 attendees and provides a collaborative community for creatives.

Photographed by Rishi Mohan

Sophia Pizarro

Photographed by Kara Yoo

Photographed by Kingston Tai

Izzy Stefanek

Photographed by Kingston Tai

Moriah Gore

Photographed by Kingston Tai

Delayna Hardimon & Helene Simmons

Photographed by Kingston Tai

Photographed by Rishi

Photographed by Rishi Mohan

Nandini Kuntamukkula & Jake Besic

Mohan

Mia Barletti & Gisella Mancera

The Design Competition

The Design Competition of CFE.3, Danse Macabre, An Allegory on Horror, May 5th, 2023 Featuring interviews with winners from the competition.

The Design Competition is a portion of the CFE runway where local and student designers compete by sending their up cycled and zero-waste looks down the runway. The winners are determined by the judging panel and audience of the event. The CFE.3 judging panel welcomed Jack Struthers; winner of the CFE.2 Design Comp. Fall 2022, Nolan Nemeroff; winner of the CFE.2 Design Comp. Fall 2023, Norman Hernandez; fashion designer & UIUC student, Victor Avita; The Collective Maga-

zine Creative Director, Aliyah Philip; The Fashion Network Executive Board Creative Director 2022, Rebekah Phaiboun; The Fashion Network President 2022, Danny Vogwill; UIUC Grad’22, Senior Partner at JUV Consulting, & Model, and Josh Jay James; CFE founder, entrepreneur, & optimist.

BTS, Design Competition Participants

Design Competition Model

Photographed by Jack Larson

Design Competition Model

Photographed by Aliza Majid

Tehila Abdiel

Photographed by James Hoeck

Design Competition Model

Photographed by Francesca Dumitrescu

CFE.3 Design Competition Results

Audience Choice

Jessica Mills

Modeled and Co-created by Sharika Majeti as ‘Woman I Trust’ for the look ‘Jellyfish’

Judges Choice

Taski Velasquez

For the look ‘La Llorona’

Most Thematic

Yuviliz Gonzalez

For the look ‘Blood Vessel’

Most Performative

Ariana Cook

For the look ‘Pink Pain’

Most Innovative

Ariana Cook

For the look ‘Gravity’

Zero Waste

Muskaan Khanna

For the look ‘Bound to Time’

Ariana Cook

The Design Competition of CFE.3, Danse Macabre, An Allegory on Horror, May 5th, 2023 Interview with Ariana Cook, voted Most Performative & Most Innovative.

Q: What did you want to get out of the CFE design competition experience?

A: I really took it as a reason to dive into my art, I think it gave a genuine drive for it, I guess, because it’s a place where we get to show off truly who we are and I think that’s really cool. I guess I almost took it as a jump. Especially because it’s a runway, you know, I think having eyes on things definitely makes it, not more reasonable to start, which kind of sucks to think that the art is to only be seen, but I think for me, at least, it gave me a reason to want to be seen.

Q: When did you first feel like you had an interest in art?

A: I’ve always been a creative person, I just think I hadn’t registered it as something that was deep in my heart, you know, I would just doodle or I’d listen to music, it was just things in life. But it started, I think, at the beginning of 2022, I wanted to be more fulfilled in my art, and I was writing poetry more and everything. Then I gained a passion for fashion for the fact that I like to be able to reuse stuff. I am someone who feels crafty in putting purpose to something else. It was just something that there’s a big surplus of, there is genuinely way too much clothing on the planet in general. And they just keep making more of it. So I got a little bit of ignition, I guess, because I was mad, I was mad that there’s so many clothes in the world that almost are going to the garbage. You know, I went shopping at the Goodwill bins, which is where the big surplus was, so it kind of put it in a real perspective to me.

I think that just kind of made it, for me at least, a necessity in my life to at least do something for the betterment of that, even if it isn’t my own smart way.

Q: Is fashion your chosen medium at this point?

A: At this point in time? Yes, for sure. I think textiles and fabrics and the fact that you can put it on your body is something that is intriguing because it changes the art of who you are, you know each day like putting clothes on it. It truly is a telling sign of not who you are, but the way that you are wanting to bring yourself out into the world.

Q: What does your design process look like?

A: It’s really hard to track my creative process, because most of the time, it is just, initiated, I guess, I always have had certain emotions that I want to move through, and I try to pay attention to what’s most prevalent in my life that’s needing a reason to be exemplified. So I kind of panicked a little bit for like, two weeks when I knew that the design competition was coming up. I have intense emotions of almost imposter syndrome, like, ‘Oh, I’m not gonna know what to do,’ so I wait until there is no possible way for me to question it. Like, ‘Oh, damn, I only have two weeks left, I need to use all of this time to make the pieces that I’m going to make.’ So it becomes like I follow my gut almost within that time. I do sketch sometimes, but sometimes, the sketch kind of warps what it’s going to look like in the physical because it’s not like two dimensional. So most of the time I just write out

‘La Llorona’ by Taski Velasquez

Photographed by Briella Henderson

the silhouette that I’m looking for and then the type of character that I want from the design itself to be shown. Then I go ham with all the fabrics and stuff.

Q: What inspired your pieces that won?

A: So Gravity is the one that I wore and the inspiration for the cage that I was wearing as my skirt was actually a Christmas decoration that I garbage picked from my neighbor’s house at midnight. It inspired me because I was like, I need to use this thing, it’s right here for me, it would go to the garbage. So from there, it was kind of it sparked, but for me the outfit is about the personification of alienated feelings in a constructed world. In the place that we’re living, that has constraints on our freedom to actually live as our animal selves are supposed to, and what our soul kind of needs. In the society that we live in, the things that hold us to being human, you know, I’ve always kind of felt like, I was trying to look inside, from outside eyes, feeling like an alien, almost. That’s kind of what I was going for with an alien with the outfit. I call it Gravity because to us, gravity pulls us down. It’s a force that pulls us to the earth. But that’s not a universal feeling, like gravity to the planet that holds it in space. There’s no down or up and the way that it pulls us to the sun and the Moon to the Earth, but to us gravity is like a pull down. That’s a very human feeling that I feel like I’m consistently trying to fight, but being able to personify it and feel at least understood within it, was what I was going for.

ment, like gravity was a person and a movement of disconnection in myself from the pieces of life that were put on me that I don’t resonate with. That was me, trying to become myself, you know. Then, for the other one, Pink Pain, that Dahlia wore, it was kind of just inspired by feminine rage. At least for me, the disconnects that I have in myself, of discomfort I had with being a female when I was growing up, because I use all pronouns now. So I feel like I’m very fluid, but I grew up with four brothers and I was the only girl and it kind of gave a really uncomfortable feeling on my skin, that I never knew why and I never knew how to get off. It always felt like I was being ripped to pieces. So I made a little doll that kind of looked like it was getting ripped apart, almost like built in things that feel like it encapsulates the female experience. Dahlia was going through something during her life that was making her feel like she was just sick of the house that she was in, she was sick of the skin on her own body, you know, and that feeling was what the outfit held as well. So she definitely was the perfect person to be able to bring that out in a truer way than me making it, you know.

Q: What inspires you artistically?

Q: Why did you decide to wear the Gravity piece and have the other modeled by someone else?

A: I constructed them in that way, I knew Dahlia was going to be my model from the start. So I kind of built the outfit out of the energy that would be brought forth from Dahlia wearing it. Same thing with the Gravity outfit for myself. This was a personal move-

A: I think the things that I use in the clothing are what inspire me. Like the scraps that I have and the materials that I use are consistently second hand, but it’s also pieces of other projects that I’ve already done that’s leftover that I want to make sure go somewhere. I collect garbage a lot and things that are possibly broken. Broken things mean that it can get put back together in a certain way and then I’m inspired to do that. I am really disconnected from any type of exposure of, not other artists, I love seeing other artists, but in depth knowing of oh, this is this fashion designer, or this is this artist. I’m inspired by a certain chaos that comes from making art. My friend Joey once called the Art Attack, where you get oh, Oh my God, I need

to make something that you just throw it all out in front of you. I think that feeling is really inspiring. Obviously my friends, the people around me like my mom and my family are a big inspiration for my art because it’s the experiences that I have with them that make me feel inspired or oppositely need to move through emotions that are uncomfortable.

‘Pink Pain’ by Ariana Cook

Photographed by Elie Zieserl

Yuviliz Gonzalez

Q: So what did your design process look like for CFE?

A: Since it was my first design on a runway, I wanted it to really embody who I am, and what I like to make—my style. I chose to do a character that I feel like is my alter ego. I did the liberty spikes, I’ve done that before. I got the name Spike from that, and I was like ‘I want to embody him’ and I did the art—I drew what he would look like and I made myself look like him. I started with the drawing and the inspiration of the character and then, once I learned the theme I was like, I can tie this into the theme with the blood vessels and the red thread hanging down to be the blood vessels. Like a mad scientist. Kind of off putting in a way. I wanted to embody that on the runway with the walk and the stares.

Q: Is there anything that inspires you particularly?

it’s a big lesson I got from them. I’m glad to work with them.

Q: When do you feel like you started getting an interest in art and design in general?

A: I would say my friend Aria definitely inspired me big time. I just met her last year, but we started this sustainable company together, The Art Collective. We all have our own thing, but we come together and use the same materials. They really inspired me on how to go and create something when I feel like I don’t have ideas sometimes and it helped me build as I go and improvise things. Improvising isn’t always bad, you can always create something that you never thought you could create. It’s piecing together the big picture—sometimes when you have the big picture you can’t find all the right pieces to fit and that’s a lot more straining. They taught me that and

A: I’d say elementary/middle school. I never planned on going to college, I just knew that I wanted to create something out of the art I do and it swayed over time. I wanted to do makeup, then I wanted to do hair, but it always came back to art. My grandma’s an artist—it runs in my family and it seemed like they made that their hobby and I wanted to prove that it can be more than just a hobby and I could do it through the means of myself and the passion that I have can back anything and bring me to where I’m supposed to be. Last year, around August, I decided I’m going to go full force and start making things and putting them out. Now I have an art studio and an Art Collective and we’re growing from there.

Q: Where do you want to go from there?

A: I would love to be more impactful in the art community in the future. With my Art Collective, I would love to have more of a bigger space where I could house a lot of artists that are struggling to find inspiration to make things, struggling to find the supplies to make things and have that all in one space. Being an artist is hard, the phrase “starving artist” is very real and I would like to build a foundation for people to feel safe. Basically have an art residency where I would have all of the supplies and I’m not using

The Design Competition of CFE.3, Danse Macabre, An Allegory on Horror, May 5th, 2023 Interview with Yuviliz Gonzalez, voted Most Thematic.

them at all times and I would love for other artists to come use them and I could help them learn how to use certain things and point them down the right direction as I learn and grow for myself. The end goal is to have some type of bigger Art Collective/ residency residency in Chicago in the next couple of years.

Perla Escudero, ‘La Llorona’ by Taski Velasquez

Photographed by Rishi Mohan

Taski Velasquez

Q: Introduce yourself

A: I’m a senior. My major is speech and hearing science and I am a fashion designer and stylist, makeup artist, photographer—anything that comes to production I really like. I’m Andean, I’m from the Andes of Peru and that’s a very big thing for me because I grew up in the Andes, and in Naperville, but I grew up moving back and forth. My culture is really important to me because there’s not many Andean people out and about and it’s just such a culturally rich place, so I just love it.

Q: Do you think your culture is reflected in your artwork?

A: Definitely, for CFE3, all my outfits were culturally inspired. Even the second outfit, Yma Sumac, was a very traditional Andean outfit with my own little twist on it. I think all of them, like La Llorona: that’s very colonial. Even though I’m Andean, we also have a lot of Spain in us, so I do take a lot from colonialism.

Q: When you heard about the theme did it change your design process?

A: When I was told I should do CFE, I was told to maybe do a horror element to it which is really out of my comfort zone because I don’t really like the color black too much and I’m very colorful, so it was really interesting. My roommate, Purla, she’s really pretty and she’s never modeled before and we just sat down and started brainstorming different Latin American horror things. We were thinking of doing Dia de Los Muertos or a mummy situation, but we really like the weeping woman because I still like all of my stuff to look glam and still look like you can go out to a formal party with that. I like to make my clothes not just for the runway.

Q: How did you first hear about the CFE design competition and what made you do it?

A: People had told me to compete because I did TFN, and people were like ‘well that’s the biggest thing they have for actual fashion designers,’ which is what I like to do because I like manual stuff. All my designs start from sketching them out, it just felt like something that was a really good fit for me last semester. I really wanted to prove myself, to myself, that I could do a complete collection.

Q: What does your design process look like? You said you start from sketches, where do you go from there?

A: Patterns are a big thing for me. For CFE.3 I went into Vogue and they have all these different types of shapes and designs, so I would just look through until I saw something I liked and then I would sketch out the pattern and color it in, play with different textures. You can also do alterations to the patterns, so that’s definitely something I did. So with CFE.3, I went to the thrift shops, for example the black dress, it took me, I’m not even joking, eight dresses to make that dress. Just because the ruffles take so much fabric. I’m a very visual person, so drawing it really helps me visualize it. It’s like a blueprint in a way.

The Design Competition of CFE.3, Danse Macabre, An Allegory on Horror, May 5th, 2023 Interview with Taski Velasquez, voted Judges Choice.

Q: So do you thrift all your fabric, or what do you do for material?

A: I thrifted almost all my fabric for CFE.3, just Goodwill. Honestly, I’m trying to change the way I thrift because I usually look for big wide fabrics, but I had a friend that recently mentioned to me that that’s taking away from plus sized people that could wear those fabrics and could wear that. So, now I’m getting into using scraps and putting them together. I try to stay away from things that already look good by themselves, like if someone else is gonna use it more. I’m also in this club Phoenix Enactus and they’re really big into sustainability and I’ve learned a lot from them, like how to reuse stuff. Fashion is scary. It’s scary to have scissors and cut stuff, but you also have a needle and thread. If you make a mistake you can just sew it back up and say it’s part of the design. No one has to know.

Q: When did you start doing design and when did you find that interest?

A: I was a very bored child. My parents really said, do your own thing. So I always really liked to watch TV, but I have really bad ADHD, so even the TV couldn’t capture my attention. I know like every form of arts and crafts that you can imagine, I’ve done everything except welding. I would grab a shirt and some beads and I would just start beading shirts. I loved making friendship bracelets. One Christmas I got this Barbie sewing machine, and I started making clothes for my Barbie dolls, and that was with my grandma’s scraps. That was just a fun little thing to do, but I never really took it seriously until I came to UIUC. I met a lot of creative people and they inspired me. I never really thought my art was—I’m a very big perfectionist but—good enough to show people. I feel like I needed to have a different perspective of it. I’ve always been really into it, but I love, beyond just art, I love the tools. I love sewing machines, I almost want to call it, just to be a mechanical engineer just so I can build sewing machines. My current sewing machine is from 1987 and it’s a Bernina Record. I love that these machines have a long longevity because there are people who do that their whole life. They wake up and they sew on these machines for years and years so I really like technology in that aspect.

Q: Do you see yourself doing something design related or fashion related as a career?

A: Yeah, I’m a little apprehensive about it because

there’s always the stereotypes, like The Devil Wears Prada. I think things are definitely changing, but I’m a sensitive girl and I get really butthurt really quickly so I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket with fashion which is why I’m pursuing Speech Pathology, but once I get more settled in my career I would definitely like to pursue fashion more. This is going to sound super random, but my dream life is being in Oregon having a home, my kids and doing my art and my fashion all day and just chill. That’s what makes me scared about making fashion my main thing because what if I lose my love for it? For right now it’s my little fun thing, you know my little projects.

Q: Are there any artists or people that inspire you particularly?

A: Unfortunately there’s not many Andean designers, so I grab my inspiration not from designers, but from actual people if that makes sense. The Andes is just so far apart from any civilization, like mainstream American civilization. When you go there, some cities don’t even have money. People are just exchanging goods and exchanging labor. I never really saw that type of fashion out there, so all my outfits are really inspired by them. The Yma Sumac, the long skirts, that’s very traditional. I like that they’re very colorful, like we love pom poms. Just stuff that reminds me of my childhood and since I grew up in the Andes that’s kind of what I grew up around. I have a little taste for it. I am very inspired by Mexican fashion designers because they also have that type of style like Yma Sumac which is one of the outfits I made. My grandpa is actually her cousin. She was a really famous Peruvian singer and all of her outfits were very Mexican, which I loved. What I wanted to do was make her Peruvian. That was my intent, I wanted to shift her over. Like, what would I do if I was her stylist? She’s very inspiring to me because she’s the “it” girl of the Andes and it’s unfortunate we haven’t had one in like 50 years.

Q: Is there anything else that inspires you aside from culture?

A: I think people inspire me, hearing people’s stories. I’m a speech and hearing science major so I’m really big on people being able to not only express their needs, but express their stories and their wants. Earlier I was explaining that me and my roommate made that outfit together. I love hearing people’s perspectives because I’m not always right. I think with

art and stuff like that I want to have other people involved. I’ll send sketches over to my mom. I get inspired by the people around me. I’ll see my roommate wearing something cute and I think ‘good idea.’

Q: What did you want to get out of the experience of the CFE design competition?

A: I wanted to win at least one prize because I put a lot of time, money and effort into CFE. It was more of a fun passion project. I took it as a challenge for myself. Just being able to be creative director and not really relying on someone’s vision was really nice for me. I did a photoshoot with all of my dresses and those were really thought out and planned out. I even took the pictures myself. I just liked doing my own thing and that was really unique.

Q: Did you have any takeaways after winning?

A: My main takeaway was that it’s a lot of hard work. I don’t think people realize how hard it is to make something. It;s a lot of effort. I definitely think it’s worth it. I love it, it’s my passion, but it’s good to be conscious of how time consuming it is, like energetically. Sometimes you get stressed when you sew! I’m not perfect, sometimes I struggle when I’m putting a zipper on, that is mentally draining and it’s important to acknowledge that. It was important to test my limits and know that I could do it if I wanted to.

Q: Any final thoughts or comments?

A: Shout out to my mom! She’s like my personal assistant, that sounds kind of weird but she is! Like my little sidekick. She’ll iron and help me with everything. She’s my little confidant. I’m very thankful that I’ve been able to make a space in fashion and I predominantly work with women of color, which I love. I just love empowering women of color and making them feel special because women of color are a very big powerhouse in the fashion industry and I love the energy

Jessica Mills

The Design Competition of CFE.3, Danse Macabre, An Allegory on Horror, May 5th, 2023 Voted Audience Choice.

Sharika Majeti, ‘Jellyfish’ by Jessica Mills

Photographed by Elie Zieserl

Muskaan Khanna

The Design Competition of CFE.3, Danse Macabre, An Allegory on Horror, May 5th, 2023

Voted Zero Waste.

Muskaan Khanna, ‘Bound to Time’ by Muskaan Khanna

Photographed by Francesca Dumitrescu

Design Competition Model

Photographed by James Hoeck

Sophie Hartzheim

Photographed by Briella Henderson

Liz Garcia Lopez

Photographed by David Pak

Design Competition Model

Photographed by Rishi Mohan

In This Spread

The Third Circular Fashion Exposition Crediting

TFN Runway Models

Mia Barletti, Jake Besic, Micheala Burrows, Moriah Gore, Eva Grein, Delayna Hardimon, Zoe Haritos, Aarushi Bafna, Sophie Hartzhheim, Sophie Hass, Sasha Hirschberg, Marcel Hoang, Grace Hunt, Araditta Iyer, Shinah Kamwaka, Muskaan Khanna, Ava Kolodziej, Zoe Spengler, Nandini Kuntamukkula, Helen Leventis, Cecilia Lopez, Sharika Majeti, Emi Manaligold, Giselle Mancera, Emma Martinez, Owen Mastroianni, Nicole Muczynska, Rachel Oh, Cecilia Lopez, Deepshitha Paruchuri, Karla De La Cerda, Sophia Pizarro, Kunal Sheth, Helene Simmons, Chloe Simpson, David Sommer, Izzy Stefanek, Calin Wallace, Arianna Winters, Kayla Taylor, Maja Wlodarczyk

Design Competition Designers

Madeline Kruse, Katia Janes, Muskaan Khanna, Jessica Mills, Taski Velasquez, Breeana Torres, Aria Cook, Yuviliz Gonzalez, Josie Liu, Sam Poglitsch, Tehila Abdiel, Najmah Amir, Emily Heneghan, Romain Saint-Louis, Afoma Okoli, Sheryl Malik, Najmah Amir, & Kailey Sedlacek

Photographers

Francesca Dumitrescu, Briella Henderson, James Hoeck, Jack Larson, Aliza Majid, Rishi Mohan, David Pak, Kingston Tai, Elie Zieserl

Interview

Conducted by Dalila Divanovic

Featuring Design Competition Winners; Ariana Cook, Yuviliz Gonzalez, Taski Velasquez

Graphic Designer

Olivia Sims

Creative Director of Design

Sophie Hartzheim, Eva Grein, Calin Wallace

Photographed by Kara Yoo

Perhaps

Photographed by Arnav Lande

In recognition of the presence of previous TFN Executive Board memberwhom graduated Spring 2023 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It’s The Fashion Network’s pleasure to reintroduce,

ALIYAH philip.

Alumni Spotlight Interview

The Fashion Network’s Creative Director of Design & Styling Spring 2022 & Fall 2022

The Fashion Network Alumni Spotlight Interview Conducted by Editor-In-Chief, Monique Robinson

Spread by Creative Director of Design, Olivia Sims

ow did you discover TFN?

I discovered TFN during my freshman year. This was peak covid so school was a lot different, and it was way harder to connect with people on campus. At the time, everything was remote and there was no quad day. As a freshman I didn’t know what direction to even look in until someone I followed reposted something from the TFN instagram account on their story and it caught my attention.

Throughout your time with TFN how did your role evolve?

I started off as a makeup artist and I did makeup for every shoot, it was so much fun. This was at a time where the organization was still recovering from Covid so we needed people to do a lot more heavy lifting in these roles so I was a MUA for a ton of people every shoot. I loved it. I would get familiar with the models and sometimes people would request me to do their makeup. The president and creative director at the time, Jessie and Emily, made the process very easy and enjoyable. After that I signed up to design a singular spread for the shoot theme “Good and Evil.” It was so fun and became a new opportunity for me to develop my skills as a graphic designer. I still have pages from that shoot in my portfolio today. Eventually I became the Creative Director of Design and later I became both the Creative Director of Design and the Creative Director of Styling.

As creative director, what was your favorite shoot to be a part of?

Bows and Frills was a very fond memory because it was fun to shoot and participate in. I loved the vibe of the shoot because it was so pretty and girly. In general, my favorite shoot would have to be Perhaps a Lack of Motif from F22. This will always be my favorite because I feel like it’s what transitioned TFN into its current high fashion rhythm. The amount of people that were willing to let me and Avery Nims (the Director of Operations at the time) bleach their

eyebrows really opened my eyes to how passionate everyone was about this. I was so invested in all of the shoots during my time that it’s really hard to choose. Being hands on and involved in every spread from the theme proposals to styling sessions to the actual shoots all the way through the publication/ design process lets you appreciate all the hard work and hands that are involved with these projects in a way that just flipping through the photos doesn’t allow. I also feel like this shoot was when TFN was finally recovered from COVID. You began to see the current pace you have now because this shoot triggered a switch from having restrictions to something more free and editorial-esque.

Have you seen TFN evolve since your start as a general member?

Yes, I think I definitely have seen a shift towards a higher level of elevation. It’s so amazing that this random university in the Midwest has created such an amazing creative space for artists of all kinds.

have people who are coming over from engineering, health sciences, education, etc. You have these kids that are amazing at whatever they’re pursuing in life and their careers, but they’re also really good at fashion/art. It’s never been a lack of talent. People have always been here that are talented. As students graduate and more people come in, they leave behind resources to help continue to facilitate a space of growth which is an awesome change to see. Overall, it’s nice that this platform has evolved and expanded enough to accommodate all the people that want to be a part of it.

Is there a shoot idea you wish you could’ve done but never got to execute?

I think it really does resemble the quality of things that you see in fashion schools in places where art is the emphasis. TFN has really built itself up enough where they have more resources (e.g money) because there’s more people attracted to the club since it’s dedicated towards the niche population of students interested in the arts. Even beyond art students, you

I would’ve loved to have a shoot that highlighted all of the various cultures around the world that TFN members represent. I know I have tons of beautiful clothes from my country that are sitting in my closet, and I am sure there are plenty of other people itching for excuses to show off their native garb.

What was your major and minor during undergrad?

I majored in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience, and I double minored in Informatics and Spanish.

As a recent graduate/alumni, what have you been doing post graduation?

I am currently pursuing my M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction at DePaul University. I also work full time as an administrative analyst at DePaul while I finish my degree, but recently I have been transitioning into designing (UX design/research and publication design) for various academic departments.

Have your career goals changed since being an undergraduate student?

My career goals have changed so much from the beginning of undergrad to now. I originally thought I’d be doing something in the medical field. I’m someone that comes from a family of nurses, and it seemed everyone was doing something in healthcare. I didn’t know anybody growing up who was doing a non-traditional career. I wasn’t happy about my major, and I was never bad at school at all, but I just wasn’t passionate or enthusiastic about a career in the medical field.

I now have fully transitioned into pursuing tech as User Experience/Product Designer. I can attribute so much of this to TFN because when I started I found myself being really good at designing, and I enjoy it. Having the space to put energy towards my passions of art and design allowed me to recognize that this is where I excel and what I am a lot happier doing.

If your career goal has shifted, do you still incorporate your artisrtic/creative side within your career or personal life?

Yes! The first word I’d use to describe myself as is creative so I honestly couldn’t survive without incorporating art into my life. It’s cool right now because although a lot of my current coursework is very technical and coding related, there’s also so many art/ design courses that my program offers. It’s gratifying to apply art into my professional life. I’d love to ultimately work for a company that focuses on art/ fashion/music/etc, so that I can always have creative projects on my plate.

Please lean into what you enjoy doing.

There will always be money to be made with the right level of passion and dedication. It is so scary to stray from whatever path you’ve put this much work into already, but four years of undergrad will seem like such a tiny part of your life in the grand scheme of things. I remember calling Danny Vogwill, another TFN alum and one of my co-judges for CFE.3, because they had also ditched the health track in pursuit of the creative field. They really made me feel more comfortable about making such a big change. Danny is now a founding member of Coachtopia, a Coach sub-brand focused on circular and sustainable fashion. It just goes to show how it is never too late to change your mind about what you want to do if the little voice in the back of your mind keeps nagging you about it. I’m still nowhere near my goals, but completely shifting my plans to pursue my passion was the best decision I made during my senior year.

As a woman of color, what has your experience been like with TFN as a predominantly white club?

I’ve seen a lot of bullshit if I’m being honest. I grew up in a pretty diverse community, so I didn’t realize how many people do not experience that at all until they get to college. TFN is still very diverse compared to other non-cultural organizations so it was refreshing to have access to a lot of POC that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise crossed paths with. UIUC is a PWI so you’re going to see this in a lot of organizations, but I think it’s especially important for people to be conscious of how race and culture play a role in creative spaces. It’s awesome to see people on exec like Thomas Sanders who are so committed to making sure everyone is properly represented. Art is subjective and full of sharing and collaboration, but that being said, that is exactly why it is important to listen to and amplify BIPOC voices. Especially,

when you’re creating art and producing something as a collaborative group with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The artwork should reflect that.

Do you feel you were able to create a more inclusive space?

I’d like to think so. The best part of TFN was that it was for everyone. It’s not like everyone at this university is an art student, but that isn’t to say there aren’t extremely talented and artistic individuals that still want a space to create. I hope that everyone felt they were extended kindness before anything related to the organization and its projects. If it takes making people feel unincluded to create great work, the work is probably not that great.

Do you feel TFN helped you feel empowered with your own identity? If so, how?

Definitely. Despite hearing it from my friends and family my entire life, for the first time I began calling myself an artist. I loved the long hours of just being able to create things (so much so that I am doing it with my life now!) It wasn’t like how it is now where you have this surplus of talented designers ready to have all hands on deck and create this stunning publication together. Most of the time I was designing everything by myself and getting very burnt out. Everyone wanted to model, but we just didn’t have many people that wanted to design. That being said, I applaud Olivia Sims and the fabulous work of her and the other designers. The quality of the publication design has elevated exponentially, and I couldn’t be more proud.

Perhaps A Lack of Motif, FA22, Issue 10

Photographed by Francesca Dumitrescu

Perhaps A Lack of Motif, FA22, Issue 10

During CFE.3 you served as a design competition judge, how did that shift from being a general member, to a member on the executive board, to now a judge feel?

I was really (happily) surprised when they asked me. As much as I will give myself credit in many aspects of design, I could never dream of achieving the kind of talent that these designers were presenting before me. It was cool to come back with Rebekah Phaiboun, who was President while I was Creative Director, because we had been so used to having a million things to do and running the show. It was nice to sit back and enjoy all of the amazing designs. UIUC is

full of so many fashionable and skilled students, and I was truly left speechless.

With CFE expressing the importance of upcycling, how have you incorporated sustainability within your fashion?

Outside of constantly stealing from my mother’s closet, I love thrifting. I think the coolest things I own are the things I’ve taken time to find. As unfortunate as fast fashion has been for the environment, it has simultaneously sped up trend cycles so much that they all coexist now. There are just so many trends occurring at any given time that investing in your personal

style is the only thing you can do. I’m not saying you shouldn’t draw inspiration from social media or what’s trending, but if you genuinely like the things that you are buying, because you like them, and not because everyone likes them, those are the things you’ll continue to wear after they have stopped being trendy. I know the things I like won’t leave my closet once they leave my feed because that’s not why they got there. That is a level of sustainability that I hope more people begin taking part in because it’s so much more interesting to see.

As someone who has been there since the beginning of CFE, how does it feel to watch it grow

Circular Fashion Expo, SP23, Judging Panel Photographed by Briella Hendersom each year?

It’s insane to think this didn’t exist at all when I started. An event of its size feels like it’s been around forever when the reality is that it’s so young. Everyone that has been and is currently involved in it should be proud of how instrumental the event has been to the continued development of UIUC’s various art communities.

What advice would you give to those who are interested in joining TFN and have no experience within the world of art and fashion?

I highly encourage it. It doesn’t matter if you have experience with art and fashion or not. If you’re thinking about it, that means you’re into it. And if you’re into it, there are people and RSOs like TFN that are there to foster your creativity. More than all of the amazing events and how impressive the magazine ends up looking, the best part about it is the opportunity to make friends. Some of my closest friends are from TFN and those relationships have long exceeded my time in the organization.

‘It’s about having

In This Spread

Alumni Spotlight Crediting

Featuring Aliyah Philip

TFN Creaive Director of Design & Styling Spring 2022 - Fall 2022

Previous TFN Issues Mentioned

Bows & Frills, Spring 22, Issue 9

Let Us Choose, Fall 2023, Issue 10

Perhaps A Lack of Motif, Fall 2023, Issue 10

Photographers

Francesca Dumitrescu, Briella Henderson, William Hohe, Arnav Lande, Yasmine Steele

Interview

Conducted by Monique Robinson

TFN Editor-In-Chief

Graphic Designer

Olivia Sims

Creative Director of Design

Copyright