Growing up in Ohio, I have always had an interest in Design. Continuing that interest to Kent State University, I have been fortunate enough to study abroad in South Korea as well as concentrating my studies on sustainable fashion. Being heavily influenced by identity, mythology, and pop culture, I choose to express my designs through a maximal lens.
Winner of the Sustainable practice award, my senior thesis collection KORE explores the idea of Sustainability and Maximalism. I don’t think I have to mention how important sustainability is to the survival of the fashion industry. For many, when they think of sustainable fashion, the image they see is of neutral colors, minimalist silhouettes, and capsule wardrobes. However, that is not everyone’s style. It is my belief that to make a feasible change to the fashion industry as it stands, we as designers need to work towards sustainable solutions for even the most niche aesthetics.
INSPIRATION
The story of Hades and Persephone doubles as the greek mythological story of how the season change. Taking inspiration from this story, my goal was to find seasonal fabrics that I could combine in order to create a collection containing pieces that could be worn year-round. Combining the seasons with the pomegranate imagery that is so important to the story, I hand-drew a pomegranate motif, representing the seeds tying Persephone to Hades.
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DETAIL
Throughout my collection, I combined scraps to make ruffles, ties, and even an entire dress. By the end of this collection, I was able to utilize most of my scraps throughout my designs. This resulted in a maximal collection that, I feel, successfully tackled the issue of textile waste in the fashion industry. However, there is always room to grow and work towards an even more sustainable future.