College Times

Any fashion designer will tell you that inspiration is the key to creativity.

Perfecting that creativity can be a pricey feat, however. Attending fashion school in New York or California will typically run you an arm, a leg, tens of thousands of dollars and your first born child.

But Mesa Community College is giving big name fashion schools a run for their money. MCC offers an apparel merchandising and design associates degree under the instruction of some big name Valley designers.

Here at the College Times we decided to see what MCC students were busy creating this semester and asked them about their fashion muses.

Dominique Warren, Age 21 (pictured above)
Designer Dominique Warren already has a fan base within MCC. After debuting some of her designs in a recent school club fashion show, people recognize her in the halls. After seeing this brown and white gown, it’s for good reason.

Inspiration for this garment: “I was going through a safari phase. I wanted something that was really different. It’s kind of couture and it has a train. But it’s really different … [and] it’s urban at the same time.”

How would you describe your design point of view?: “I like things that challenge mainstream creativity. I do like some classic looks, but I usually put a little spin on them. I like a lot of color and I like things that fit really well.”

Wesley Bowers, Age 20
Wesley designed a unique baby blue satin top for one of his classes, which gained him the recognition of his teachers, including famous local designer and MCC instructor Angela Johnson.

Inspiration for this garment: “I wanted something that was really chic and stylish for [women] to wear. I guess at the time I was just thinking retro, ‘70s, ‘80s kind of feel.”

What designers do you admire?: “I like [Gianni] Versace. When he was around…those styles were just phenomenal. I also like Zandra Rhodes [for] her vibrant colors.”

Francis Moeller, 27
Just looking at Francis Moeller, most would be able to tell that she is a design student. Although she is taking design classes just for fun, her love for designing handbags is serious business.

Inspiration for this garment: “It started out with this cameo that I found at an antique store. It’s so pretty. It was a necklace and I wore that at opening night at “Marie Antoinette.” The whole movie was just … eye candy and so rad, so I was like ‘oh, I’m going to make a purse.’”

Do you want to be a professional fashion designer, or are these classes just for fun?: “I’m mostly just coming here to get my associate’s and I’m just taking lots of sewing to see where it takes me. I don’t know if fashion designing is … for me, but I do love to sew. I want to be able to make whatever I want.”

Alicia Klovenas, Age 22
Going green takes on a whole new meaning for design student Alicia Klovenas. Her idea of “green” doesn’t involve the color at all, but instead she uses edgy vintage prints and plastic bags.

Inspiration for this garment: “I like a lot of Vivienne Westwood, so I got my inspiration from her lines. I do recycled [designs] and I had these really great vintage curtains, so I decided to make a party dress out of them.”

How would you describe your design aesthetic in a few words?: “It’s kind of a mix between punk and vintage. I like a lot of plaids and animal prints, but I also do a lot of vintage fabrics because it’s all recycled.”

Mike Kushibab, Age 20
Clean and sophisticated is the way Mike Kushibab is heading with his design. Although the garment is not finished, judging by his sketch, he’s heading in the appropriate direction.

Inspiration for this garment: “My inspiration is just classic beauty – chic and very timeless. This is just the shell of the dress. It’s going to be shorter and there’s going to be a chiffon and angora overlay on it so it creates a draping effect.”

What do you want to do when you’re done with school? “When I’m done with school, I want to get an internship at a fashion house and hopefully start my own line.”

Jessica Green, Age 21
Jessica Green is all about elite urban appeal. This dress is just an example of the work she will put into her upcoming t-shirt line called E$tabli$hed Tee$.

Inspiration for this garment: “I interned with Angela Johnson and she inspired me to use recycled t-shirts and kind of make them my own. She inspired me to kind of think outside the box and make my own clothing, and that dresses aren’t always expensive. You can look cute and be under a budget.”

Who is your favorite designer on Project Runway?: “Teri, but I just found out that she got kicked off! She’s exactly how I would be on that show. She kind of has a hip-hop, urban flair to her. She just doesn’t care, you know? I like her a lot.”

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