Claire McKinney and Sophie Andes-Gascon both moved to New York in 2011 to study fashion design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. McKinney grew up in Portland, Oregon, where, as a child, she would make costumes using pillowcases and blankets borrowed from the family’s linen closet. Andes-Gascon was born in Manaus, Brazil, but later moved to Maryland, where her father taught her how to sew and knit. For a time, the two classmates shared an apartment, and in 2015 they both landed jobs as design consultants for the brand Maryam Nassir Zadeh, where they still work. They each continued to create their own clothes on the side and eventually formed a partnership; in 2019, they launched SC103, which specializes in custom dyes and handcrafted elements, with a runway show in downtown Manhattan that was, in a departure from the traditional fashion presentation format, open to the public. “We reject the idea of exclusivity and embrace an open and democratic policy,” says McKinney. “We want to share this experience with people outside the fashion world.” The name SC103 is a nod to the pair’s personal bond: It’s derived from the first letters of their names, combined with the building number of their first shared apartment and studio. For fall 2020, the designers will show brightly colored hand-knits paired with workwear-inspired trousers, armor-like garments made from linked leather panels, and shrunken sweaters and pants designed to mimic ones that have been washed on too high a heat.

Since meeting at Central Saint Martins, Amy Trinh and Evan Phillips have built impressive resumes: Trinh interned at Louis Vuitton, Craig Green, and Stella McCartney; Phillips assisted Richard Quinn with his first collections before working on development at Simone Rocha. Both of their careers shifted course, though, when Trinh got engaged in 2018 and discovered that the type of unconventional wedding dress she wanted didn’t exist. “I realized there was something missing,” she says, “namely, dresses that could be worn more than once.” She reached out to Phillips to help her create a dress, and that conversation became the starting point for their bridal-inspired ready-to-wear label WED, which debuted last year. The pair’s goal is to create garments that can be worn both on and long after a person’s wedding day. “It’s about making bridal wear more sustainable and changing the mentality that a wedding dress should be boxed up and never worn again,” Phillips says. The pair also want to reimagine what wedding attire means in a world where the concept of marriage is changing and becoming more inclusive. Their new collection, which will be their second to date, will be shown by appointment in Paris. “The garment drapes are based on a swirling movement,” explains Phillips of the pieces, which include an A-line taffeta skirt with a dramatic spiral-like silhouette. This season, the designers have also collaborated with the 300-year-old English mill Stephen Walters, and have repurposed many of the company’s dead-stock fabrics, from a quilted jacquard to a striped satin.

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Although what’s happening currently feels quite bleak, amidst the chaos more and more stories of people using their talents and creativity to help others are emerging. Among them are the students, established designers, and others with access to a sewing machine who have begun to manufacture face masks – an amenity which is becoming more and more sought after as the world pandemic worsens.

In Prague’s Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design’s studios, a number of students have so far crafted hundreds of face masks. Sending them out to hospitals, retirement homes, volunteers, or any other people in need, the initiative was put into place after the government issued an order that everyone should wear face masks but neglected to actually provide them.

During this weekend some hospitals in the Czech Republic started to ask for face masks (even handmade) on social media, says Alice Klouzkov, an assistant at the university. Because our fashion design students and fashion designers can sew and many have small workshops with sewing machines, they answered the request and began to help.

With being caught on public transport without a mask in the region now a public offense, London-based label Adva also acknowledged the current situation in Prague. Part of our wholesale business is in Prague and the situation over there, in terms of supply of face masks, is catastrophic, explains Aneta Pruskova, the brand’s creative director.

Following in the footsteps of Prague’s Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design, the womenswear brand has already decided to make face masks for people outside and have the capacity to make face masks for medical use also, Pruskova continues.

Elsewhere, designer Phoebe English is also using her position to help. Taking to Instagram, English posted a picture of a textbook alongside a caption which asked Can we make masks for you? We have machinery that can be of use to make additional face masks. 

With others who work in the fashion industry following suit, Allison Ozeray, a seamstress and freelance designer from Paris is also planning to make masks, which she will distribute locally and to medical organizations. I had the feeling of being useless in front of all of it, she says. If we all help in our own way and skills things will change and improve.

In times of uncertainty, we should not underestimate the creative industries’ ability to encourage change and help others. We strongly believe in fashion as a medium or a tool of social responsibility that can improve our lives in many positive ways, Klouzkov says. In our Fashion Design Studio, we try to respond to the fact that future employment for our graduates is going to change, more designers will have to work on projects related to health care or care for the elderly people. But it is striking that this challenge came to us so suddenly and soon!

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The highest earning fashion designers vary in style and industry, with many choosing to launch their own apparel lines. The common trend among top-paid fashion designers is apparent: experience and time in the industry is a requirement. It takes time to become a wealthy fashion designer.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, some of the top fashion designers are the owners of exclusive clothing lines:

Chris “Drama” Pfaff Net Worth

American music producer and clothing designer, Christopher Russell Pfaff has an estimated net worth of $8 million. He is the founder and owner of the Young and Reckless Clothing Company. He is best known for appearing on the reality shows Rob & Big and Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory. He earn his net worth through his

Betsey Johnson Net Worth

American fashion designer, Betsey Johnson has an estimated net worth of $50 million. Bbest known for her feminine and whimsical designs. Betsey Johnson earned her net worth through her career in fashion designing and as the in house designer of the Manhattan Boutique Paraphernalia, and took over the Alley Cat label and began her own

Giorgio Armani Net Worth

Italian fashion designer, Giorgio Armani has a net worth of $7.2 billion as of March 2012 according to FORBES rich list. He spent 2 years in medical school at the University of Piacenza before dropping out in 1957 to take a job as a department store buyer. He went on to become a seller for

Ralph Lauren Net Worth

Age: 71 ,Residence: New York, NY Education: DIPL, High School Marital Status: Married , Children: 3 American fashion designer and business executive, Ralph Lauren has an estimated net worth of $7.5 billion as of March 2012 according to Forbes rich list. The Bronx native worked first job at Brooks Brothers; left school to design ties

Patrizio Bertelli Net Worth

Italian businessman, chairman and CEO of Prada, Patrizio Bertelli has an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion as of March 2012. He is the husband of designer, Miuccia Prada. Bertelli met his wife and business partner Miuccia Prada at a trade fair in 1977, same time as they took the helm of the family company…

(Read more on these top paid fashion designers and their job descriptions at The Richest.org.)

Fashion designers can earn higher income by excelling at any of the industry’s genres, including fashion design, merchandising, and marketing. Most ‘fashion designers’ actually design apparel, clothing, accessories, and footwear. They may work in wholesale companies or manufacturers, as well as running their own label or line of clothing.

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(PRWeb) YouTube recently paid a visit to the Los Angeles campus of FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising for a fun-filled Stylist Challenge event. FIDM students were asked to break into teams of three – stylist, model, and videographer – to style an outfit that would be runway ready in just 10 minutes.

The winning team, Creative Captivators, styled by Apparel Industry Management student Anthony Hernandez, won $200 in prizes and a tutorial session with YouTube fashion star Wendy Nguyen of Wendy’s Lookbook. Representatives from YouTube mingled on campus for a few hours, along with a DJ and refreshments, to network and answer questions about how to best use the video channel to promote fashion and beauty brands.

“The creativity of the FIDM student population falls perfectly in line with the creative community that already exists on YouTube. We are excited to see how FIDM students utilize the platform to expand their personal brands,” explained YouTube Strategist Margaret Gregory.

FIDM’s Official YouTube Channel gives fashion fans a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion school. Visitors can watch FIDM DEBUT Runway Shows, go inside classrooms, and find out what being a student at FIDM is really like. There are also helpful how-to and DIY fashion and beauty videos.

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a co-educational, specialized, private college dedicated to educating students for the Fashion, Graphics, Interior Design, and Entertainment industries. Known as a one of the top fashion design schools, FIDM is also a leading graphic design school and digital media college. Visit fidm.edu for more information.

Original Press Release: YouTube and Fashion Blogger Wendy Nguyen Visit FIDM for Stylist Challenge Event

Fashion students showcase collections at Baska

Fashion Students Meet the Queen

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(Gazette Herald) Passports were as important as pins for fashion students who scoured India and Italy looking for inspiration for their designs.

The fruits of their travels were revealed at a glamorous fashion show at York Racecourse on Thursday.

Anneka Rogers, 21, of Malton, was one of the York College foundation degree students who took part in an academic exchange to India – a first for the college.

The students stayed for three weeks, said Helen Ventress, head of art, design and craft at the college. She said: “They went out to source fabrics, trims and beads. They went to markets and specialist craft areas, visited manufacturers and small factories and dusty street stalls.”

Anneka said she was knocked out by the culture shock and has called her final collection, Indescribable India. “You can hardly describe what it’s like,” she said. “You just can’t take everything in.”

Anneka took the peacock, the national bird of India, as an inspiration. She bought ready-made embroidered peacocks at a street market and incorporated them into her garments back in York. In one dress, featuring a deep purple skirt with an upper body displaying a feather print, a large peacock is stitched across the front.

It was the Duomo in Florence that struck a chord with 21-year-old Alix Shaw fromNorton.

“We went….

Read more: Ryedale fashion students’ travels translate into design statements

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Considering that fashion is a part of everything we see, it’s no wonder that so many fashion schools can boast about famous alumni and super-success stories. Unique clothing design and private label companies are but a small sector in the types of industries that require fashion grads for their success.

Which Industries Hire Fashion Designers?

In short, just about every industry needs fashion designers! Most occupations that require uniforms hire designers to create uniforms that are comfortable and versatile. Advertising agencies need fashion designers to dress models in a way that will convey a certain image. Department stores look to designers to create unique lines of apparel, shoes, and accessories. Jewelers hire designers to create the next holiday sensation.

Knowing that so many types of industries need fashion school graduates, the more important question is how does one find a job in the industry they love?

What Do Hiring Industries Seek in a Fashion Design School Graduate?

According to an industry expert at Style Apple, there are 10 Things to Look for When Hiring a Fashion Designer. We’re listing the first 5, but check out the article for a sneak peek into what type of fashion grad appeal you need to have to land these jobs:

“POINT 1. From the first online (or offline) portfolio to the last portfolio you sift through, ask yourself: Which one blew you out of your socks?

POINT 2. Those portfolios that knock your socks off are where to start your follow-up.

POINT 3. What made them catch your eye, hold your breath, and call in the rest of your team to see what you see. If you know what you need, seeing what fits the bill should be easy. The plus of looking, is if you find something more, something je ne sais pas (I don’t know what), but when you see it – wow – you know it.

It might be good to know what kind of environment they best design in… It is not just a passing curiosity to know how a designer thrives best. And aside from the physical environment, what is the computer environment or OS (operating system) – along with the programs – that made their work pop. Genius may also have its source in the tools used.

POINT 4. A good portfolio contains – like manners – a designer’s best foot forward, their best work, their best representation of all of what they can do as a designer. And like manners, it’s not a façade, it’s not a put-on, it’s in fact the super powers that they have cultivated throughout their career to the point where they are now: Now, ‘You Are Here’. So no worries, they should be able to back up what ever they have presented. That is to say, they should be able to apply all their talents and skills to whatever you may challenge them with.

POINT 5. Check and balance your initial awe of pretty pictures with sound design process practicalities. If you don’t see it in the portfolio, and you still want to investigate what the designer is capable of, let this be one question in your first line of defense upon interviewing:

QUESTION #1. Are you capable of detailing your designs in a tech pack?

You should also ask:

QUESTION #2. Are you capable of leading fit meetings for your designs?
And since you are on this track, ask this:

QUESTION #3. Are you knowledgeable of fabric types, constructions, knitting qualities, and gauges?”

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(C-MK Patch) Sixteen students from high schools throughout the region showcased their final fashion collections during the “Cirque Du Chic” senior fashion show on the Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES campus in Yorktown Heights on Thursday.

The garments were all inspired by elements of the circus and every element of the show – from lighting, to set design, hair and make up, was executed by students at the technical school.

Maya Goldberg, a Chappaqua resident and Horace Greeley High School student, said the process has made her more “driven and responsible.” For her collection she wanted to add an edge and femininity to her garments and use influences from the various circus styles.

Olympia Minichino, a Yorktown High School senior, said she was inspired by the “flashy and glamorous” side of the circus. All the hard work she and the rest of the students put throughout the year really paid off at the end.

“During this year I realized how I wanted to express myself in the fashion industry,” Olympia said in an interview that was played during the fashion show. “I am very thankful for this program and our amazing teacher Mrs. Tobin because I’ve gained so much experience that I will definitely use in my future.”

Jessica Lehtonen, a 17-year-old Brewster High School senior said her collection, which consisted of six women’s and two men’s outfits, was chic and glamorous. The high school senior will go on to study fashion design in college and said fashion is always changing and it’s always a challenge. The girl, who currently, works at Elephant’s Trunk boutique store in Mt. Kisco, hopes to one day open her own boutique store.

Read More: BOCES Students Get ‘Cirque Du Chic’ for Fashion

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(SF Gate) San Francisco is home to seven schools with fashion degree or certificate programs, run by seven veteran industry insiders. These women craft their curricula as carefully as a designer constructs a jacket.

Responding to the popularity and influence of personal style blogs, some chairs recently added wardrobe-styling classes.

When the economy began to tank, says Simon Ungless, director of the school of fashion for the Academy of Art University who works under Executive Director Gladys Perint Palmer, “Gladys knew we had to start bringing in more instructors in traditional hand work, like embroidery and beading, because craft and quality were going to become more important to both designers and customers. We recently added a class in how to build a classic ballet tutu, and students are just flooding into that class.”

This month, with the annual spring student runway shows in full swing as the collective Class of 2012 heads out the door, we thought it was a good time to talk to the fashion department chairs from one end of town to the other.

Some of the best trend spotting in town can be found on the corners of Polk and Eddy, Fourth and Mission, or Eighth and Hooper, where fashion students gather during breaks, many wearing their own designs or inventive thrift store finds. They’re everywhere, from Dogpatch to Ocean Avenue.

Read what they said: Chairs of 7 S.F. fashion schools tell what’s new

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Many types of fashion designers are doing well in their industry, but what sets them apart from the competition may be less about college and more about getting into the right sector of their industry. How many types of fashion designers are there? It depends on how you categorize the work.

Sticking to the basics of fashion, there are three types of fashion designers: shoes, apparel (which includes costumes), and accessories. However, step inside of those categories and we see a world where we find many possibilities.

Apparel Fashion Designers

Apparel designers focus their energy on creating styles for every part of the world’s population – from main street workers to starlets in Hollywood. Costume designers and mass market experts work within the title of “apparel designer”. When it comes to the apparel category, three types of fashion designers exist: Haute couture, prêt-a-porter, and mass market. (Note: There is a fourth type of apparel fashion design – kitsch. Kitsch is out of date fashion worn to ‘make a statement’. However, the market is extremely limited for kitsch designs.)

Haute Couture Fashion Designer

Haute couture designers are those that stick to the old rules of design for wealthy clients. These are fashion designers who specialize in creating custom apparel for an individual customer. One person at a time, haute couture fashion designers make custom garments based on the exact measurements of their client.

Prêt-a-porter Fashion Designer

Prêt-a-porter, or ‘ready-to-wear’, fashion designers focus on apparel for the masses, while reserving some effort to get the perfect cut, material, and presentation for the wearer. These fashion designers aren’t creating designs for millions of people. Rather, prêt-a-porter designs are manufactured in limited numbers.

Mass Market Fashion Designer

Mass market fashion designers are creating new styles for the general population. Their items will be mass-produced and sold on the open market. There are no limited editions or custom fitting involved in producing mass-market apparel. By far, mass market apparel is the most popular option among new designers entering the field of fashion.

Shoe Fashion Designers (Footwear Designers)

Footwear designers are in the market to design shoes and foot wear. Within this category, there are many other types of fashion designers as well. These include athletic footwear and formal footwear, and can be categorized the same way as the types of apparel designers.

Fashion Accessory Designer

Fashion accessory designers focus on designing jewelry and other items that are not necessarily considered ‘apparel’. These types of fashion designers create necklaces, bracelets, hats, scarves, hand bags, and other items we use to accessorize.

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(Rice Thresher) The Speak Against Silence Charity Fashion Show seamlessly combined a love for fashion with a powerful initiative to help victims of domestic abuse. Raising more than $50,000 for Aids to Victims of Domestic Abuse, the fashion show committee consisted of a group of high school students from the Houston area.

“My mother, Sofia Adrogue, has always been passionate about women’s issues and has passed on this fervor to me,” show chair Sloane Adrogue-Gustafson said. “Together we picked the perfect charity for our fashion show: a cause combining children as well as domestic abuse.”
The funds raised through the SAS fashion show went toward AVDA’s Children’s Resource Project, which specifically focuses on child victims of domestic violence.

For over 30 years, the nonprofit organization AVDA has given free legal aid to over 85,000 abuse victims, according toavda-tx.org.

However, the Houston Chronicle reported that the recession limited AVDA’s funding at a time when the rate of domestic violence was skyrocketing.

By dedicating the show to AVDA, the committee was able to not only donate funds to the charity but also to publicizeAVDA’s efforts in the community.

“The purpose of the SAS Fashion Show was to bring to light the victims of domestic abuse and the importance of giving to those in need,” Adrogué-Gustafson said.

As the sunset lowered onto the rooftop of Urban Retreat Salon and Spa, the event began to unfold with guests anxiously awaiting the designers’ collections. The event featured a group of highly talented high school fashion designers with a wide range of styles.

Episcopal High School freshman Amir Taghi displayed his delicate feminine designs on the catwalk while models of future Parsons The New School for Design student Jackson Wiederhoeft strutted in 18th century…

Read More: Brown College alumna helps fight domestic abuse with fashion show

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