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YOUNG DESIGNER
INTERVIEW
Zoe
By Montgomery Harris
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Zoe carrying a bag
she made from a Project RUNWAY camp challenge in the senior
division. She's also wearing her 2nd place wining black T-shirt
which she had one hour to re-design and re-construct. |
Zoe, age
thirteen, is a four year sewing student at Love to Sew. She’s been a
member of the Project Runway Summer Camps since she began, last year
participating with the Seniors. She won the T-shirt Dress and Inspired
by Candy challenges and showed a line this past autumn at the Unionville
Community Fair. Her eclectic taste in both music and literature
influences her work.
At what
age did you begin sewing and what aspect of the craft first interested
you?
I think I
was in third grade, so eight, nine years old. I missed my Girl Scout
meeting, so I came to make it up to get my patch. I made a backpack
taking private lessons. I was originally interested in crafts, then I
started making dresses for dolls, which led to fashion. I started at
Love to Sew in fourth grade.
Could you
describe your latest project and its influences?
I’m making a
baby doll dress for my 2010 collection. The inspiration is Geek Chic,
preppy, back-to-school.
Who and
what inspires your work?
Whatever I’m
interested in. I let the seasons guide my work.
How do
your peers react to your fashion sense? How do they react when they
learn you’ve made your own clothes?
My friends
are excited, like, “Are you serious?” I’m critical: I point out the
crooked stitching but they think it’s wonderful. At school I dress up
everyday in sweaters and it’s sort of a joke if I’m dressing down.
If you
could be the head costume designer for one television show, what would
it be?
Dr Who. They
have cool alien costumes, a lot of intergalactic fashion; time travel
episodes have Victorian and Colonial clothing. It’s a wide variety of
looks.
Have you
ever started something you couldn’t finish?
I have a
vest I’ve worn many times. The inside seem is still unfinished. I keep
saying I’ll finish it later and wear it anyway.
What do
you like best and least about sewing?
I like
finishing things. Even with the flaws you think, “Oh, I made this,” and
it’s great. I don’t like cutting; straight lines are difficult.
Do you
have any advice for beginners?
Patience is
Key. Don’t get frustrated. If you have problems see what is wrong and
think how to fix it.
Anything
else you’d like to say?
I know this
has been said before, but fashion is a great way to express yourself.
What someone is wearing says a lot about presentation and even her or
his opinions.
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