So, fashion.

I applied to Art2Wear along with ~50 other designers in December 2014 in an effort to diverge from my graphic design major's track and take on a challenge. I was tired of looking at screens.  
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Two completed looks were required for application in December. While studying abroad in Florence fall semester I bought Italian books from street vendors, sourced faux leather from a Florentine shop, crashed the fashion design sewing studios, and asked my roommate to model to produce the first two pieces of my line. After my acceptance, I returned to Raleigh to finish the rest of my line.

While studying abroad in Florence I bought Italian books from street vendors, sourced faux leather from a Florentine shop, crashed the fashion design sewing studios, and asked my roommate to model.

model wearing paper dress.
Model showing back of paper dress.

Ath•e•nae•um
noun
Used in the names of libraries or institutions for literary or scientific study; used in the titles of periodicals concerned with literature, sciences, and art.

Paper, thread, & lasers

My graphic design background made me an unusual participant in Art2Wear. Designers usually come from fashion design, textiles, fiber design, or industrial design backgrounds. I combined my love of books and typography with a love of crafting with my hands — tapped into the breadth of my interests and skillset — to craft a marriage of typography and fashion.

Sketch of paper dress.
Laser cutter cutting out leather
laser cut typographic material in waves.
Video of golden thread spinning in a spool.
Long golden skirt on a mannequin.
Wallpaper book pages sewn together.
Image of a plasma cutter cutting metal into a typographic skirt.
Typographic skirt spraypainted gold and drying in the sun.
Model walking in a test fitting for a big hoop skirt.

I tapped into the breadth of my interests and skillsets to craft a marriage of typography and fashion.

The College of Design offers incredible resources in its shop. I used the laser cutter to create my letter leather pattern; sewed oversized book pages on a sewing machine; plasma cutted letters into steel sheet metal; and welded the metal to form structured wearable pieces.

Left arrow.
right arrow.

Through my lens

I chose to shoot my line at the early 1900's era studio where I built it: Leazar Hall. To me, the best context to frame my line was a university building. The studio building had the old world metal, brick, and wood that inspired my line's tone.

Group photo of six models in fashion line.Close up of dress with book page skirt, leather jacket, and leather typography lining.Model in book paper dress and leather mini skirt. Three models in leather typography and book page dresses.Leather typography top and long gold skirt.close up of leather typographic top and metal typography colllar.Long golden skirt and letters scattered down.Model in leather typography top and giant book pages as a skirt.Metal typography in blonde hair.metal skirt and leather dress underneath.Metal typographic top, like armor, and a wide silk black hoop skirt.Back of model with metal top and hoop skirt bottom.

Takeaways

I had never made clothes before I applied to Art2Wear. This was a large scale risk that paid off after many mistakes and growing pains. I took joy in experimenting with the incredible resources available at the College of Design - lasers and plasma cutters? So cool. I loved building an experience; not with pixels and light, but with physical materials, my hands, and the music of the show.

I loved building an experience; not with pixels and light, but with physical materials, my hands, and the music of the show.

I learned what it took to sit at the helm of a vision and direct a group of people to see it through. At the end of the day, I was just one small piece of the larger effort of Art2Wear. I'm grateful to have been able to tell my story.