Designer Confidential highlights the work of SU's greatest fashion asset: its student designers.
Alison Sparks, sophomore, is currently working on two fashion projects both of which draw on important people and places in her life.
For the final in her fashion illustration class, in which students have to pick an era for their collection, Sparks has modernized the groovy 70s.
The title of her collection is Bohemian Heritage. “The bohemian style,” Sparks says, “…is sort of [hippy-like] and relaxed…then heritage is [the] country-western [component].” The two styles join together to form a psychedelic collection, replete with bright colors, denim and plaid.
To modernize the collection and make it sellable to today’s shoppers, she uses a contemporary approach with a-symmetrical on top, and replaces the bulky jean jackets of the bygone time with more modern silhouettes, like in the case of a fitted jean vest.
“I was inspired by this one picture of my mom and my aunt and the room was so 70s,” she says.
In essence, Sparks believes the collection is somewhat her heritage. Sparks is also working on a collection for her flat-pattern class, in which students must appeal to Barney’s customers while drawing on Geoffrey Beene's work, that of another designer assigned to them, and one inspirational source of their own choice.
Sparks’s assigned fashion label is Edun, a company dedicated to creating organic clothing and bettering the conditions of workers in Africa. This is a perfect match for Sparks, who's also inspring positive impacts through clothing, as she designs screen-printed T-shirts for Doulos Clothing, a line that uses positive messages from the scriptures of the bible. She also volunteered last year at the Bridal Garden in New York City, which sells discounted wedding dresses donated by brides and designers.
Drawing on Edun, Sparks says that she is using 100 percent natural silks, loose silhouettes, soft details, and flowing shapes. Her personal inspiration is the woods surrounding a cabin that her grandfather built. This gives way to her usage of foliage-inspired colors: iridescent golden-red, taupe, pink, and grayish purple. She says that the neckline of the dress she is making currently is also inspired by organic shapes in nature.
“I always feel like if you’re going to make something and are really passionate about it, part of your inspiration should be something close to you and [that] you feel is important to you and different than what anyone else has,” she says.
With a personal touch in everything she does, Alison puts a spark in all of her fashion undertakings.
Dream Job: To eventually operate a design company of her own that is focused on philanthropic pursuits.
Why you should look out for her: “I’m really determined and I don’t give up quickly,” Sparks says.
Designer Confidential: When she was little she would change five times a day because she loved clothes so much. Over the years she loved to draw and took a variety of classes in the subject, as well other general art classes. She didn’t think studying fashion design was attainable or realistic until she went to New York City and realized that she could have a career combining the two things she loved: clothing and drawing.
-Amanda Michelson
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