The University of Texas at Austin’s Senior Design Student Fashion Show, “Elements,” takes place on April 14 at the Frank Erwin Center. Twenty two students will showcase athletic-wear and bridal pieces they created last semester, and a three-piece collection they have been working on this semester.

Story by Ethan Elkins

Photos by Malayna Ellis 

In this installment, ORANGE interviewed five design students and asked about their collections, inspiration and plans after graduation.

Debby Garcia — 22, Retail Merchandising major (Design Track)

What inspired your collection?

My collection is called “Stag,” and it is inspired not by only my lifestyle, but also by this documentary I watched. The documentary was about Yellowstone National Park, and there was a scene that featured deer and caribou fighting each other. I thought the idea of the circle of life and all of the shapes in nature are very cool. The geometric shapes of deer antlers are featured in my collection, as well as organic shapes. There are also many intricate details inspired by leaves and tree trunks.

Which piece are you the most proud of?

I’m most proud to show my bridal gown. I also love to make accessories, so I made a bouquet with many pieces in it that are important to me. I made all of the flowers from fabrics and pieces of broken jewelry from my childhood. There’s also a rosary sewn into it from the Vatican. I hand-sewed the veil.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

This summer I am doing my designer internship for Weisman in St. Louis. They are the no. 1 manufacturer for dance costumes, which they produce globally for many boutiques. I’m really excited because I have never done dance-wear, so it will be a really great learning experience. In the fall, I am moving to New York to finish up my merchandising degree by doing a full-time internship.

Hira Jethwa — 22, Design major with Business Foundations Certificate

What inspired your collection?

My collection is called “Iridescence,” and it is inspired by prisms and geometric shapes. It incorporates the colors that iridescent objects reflect.  

What types of pieces did you make?

My first look is a shirtdress with a fanned color and a cool shattered print. I’m pairing it with a champagne gold. My second look is for men. I actually custom-printed my own fabric for the suit. My third look has a high-low shirt dress type garment. It also has triangular shapes and the same pastel colors throughout the collection. They all have an essence of menswear- collars, button-up shirts and pants.

Which designer inspires you?

I love Valentino because they have the most amazing and subtle clothes. They manage to be extravagant and elaborate, but still refined.

What part of the fashion show are the most excited for?

I’m excited to have everyone see my work. I haven’t shown anyone, including my friends. The event showcases everything we have been working on for the past year, and I think it is cool for people who do not know what the major is about to see the level we are working at.

Kara Crosby — 21, Design Major with Business Foundations Certificate

What inspired your collection?

Teamwork. A lot of the collection is sports-influenced, with many numbers and jersey-like materials. The idea of working together and team efforts inspired me.

What is your favorite type of garment to design?

Ready-to-wear. It’s what I think about most, and it is what people are thinking about day-to-day. Evening wear is cool to think about and design, but I think ready-to-wear is more exciting to design because it is what people actually live in.

Which designer inspires you?

For Ready to Wear I love Helmut Lang and watching what he did in the 90s. Currently, rag & bone and Opening Ceremony.

What is one thing you have learned at UT that has helped your design process?

UT has definitely taught me that hard work is necessary. I’ve learned it is equally important to to connect with people while you are working. It is not just about the work you are doing, but a lot of it is about the relationships you are forming while working, and learning from the people around you.

Emily Noel — 22, Design Major

What inspired your collection?

My collection is called “Chinoiserie,”which includes Chinese motifs, art and design mixed with Western culture.

Which designer inspires you?

I love Stella McCartney because she contrasts herself a lot. She’s not just one-dimensional. She’ll have really feminine and masculine things.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

I plan to move to New York and work in the industry. I’m interning this summer at a company called “Rhié,” which is a very modern up-and-coming clothing brand. The designer’s name is Rhié, and she started the company in 2011 and has since been featured in Vogue a lot.

What is one thing you have learned at UT that has helped your design process?

I definitely didn’t know all of the illustrating I would be doing. Knowing the process has definitely helped, because it’s huge to know how to communicate your designs. I’ve really honed in my sketching skills.

Clare Moore — 21, Design and Public Relations Major

What inspired your collection?

I was really inspired by a big city, particularly at rush hour. Imagine a fog over a city and you are passing by tons of people making a first-person initiation, but also recognizing these people have many different layers to them.

Which designer inspires you?

For day-to-day wear, I really love Kate Spade New York as a brand, and respect their witty, fun and playful spirit. I also really love rag & bone and their contemporary and distressed denim.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

Probably move to New York, but I’ve also thought about moving to London or Australia. I really just want to be in the fashion industry, but I’m not sure exactly what I want to do yet. This summer I’m going to be working with Ralph Lauren in their merchandising department in New York.