My Love for Fashion Design

When a person picks out their outfit for the day, they are deciding how to present themselves to the world. Fashion is a part of every person’s life, whether the intention is there or not. Will you be “elegant and studious” today, or “hobo chic”? Well, one day, I decided I wanted to be golden poppy lambskin with brown zebra print lining, so I made a cross-body satchel.

I have been passionate about my accessories since the young age of five – my mom was warned about my obsession with footwear when I refused to remove my red patent leather boots to be weighed at the doctor’s office. Bags and boots are my faithful sidekicks. A bag is always there to carry what you can’t hold. Boots protect you and provide you with support throughout the day. Accessories pull you together, and help you express yourself to the world. Well, at least these are my justifications for shopping . . .

I decided to explore fashion design in the 8th grade. I started taking classes at Jennifer Siletski’s New Jersey School of Fashion Design and Accessories. Before you could say “Mademoiselle Chanel,” my goal of designing and creating one leather cross-body bag morphed into three bags and a pair of boots.

Jennifer’s class was my first experience working with leather. I had no prior knowledge of pattern making or sewing; all I knew were the designs I had in my head, and Jenn facilitated the process of turning that image into a tangible product. Each day I walked into class, I had a set goal to accomplish. Jenn walked me through the traditional processes, the minute details measuring, cutting and constructing, and then gave me room to find my way – ultimately the voice I wanted to express in my leather. My instincts took over, and it shows throughout my work. Each product is a piece of me – my patience, simplicity, and some boldness.

Throughout my senior year of high school, I attended Jenn’s school on weekends to create a pair of motorcycle/combat boots. I decided to line my boots with the same dark violet leather I used to create a backpack. What a lovely way to unify all my leather creations, I thought. Later in the year, still working on the boots, I was perusing racks of dresses at the mall and BOOM – a gown in the same shade of purple. Every girl knows that senior prom is EVERYTHING, and hello – this was my everything.

I am going to be bold. I am going to be simple. I am wearing an evening gown with combat boots (my 5’9’’ self also considered the fact that I would now avoid being taller than my date).

June 13th, 2013: Prom has arrived. The gown is on and the boots are laced up, buckled, and folded over to expose the violet that complements the dress. The dark biker vibe of the boots is juxtaposed with my floral leather clutch (bag #2). This is it, I am being different! Unique! That is, until I almost face-plant on my way descending the driveway slicked with rain.

The boots made it into pictures before I had to change into my 5-inch heels (sorry prom date). Rain and freshly completed leather boots are nouns that do not belong together. Yet as I posed on my front porch, armed with my bag and boots, I felt I had truly accomplished something, and now had something to show for it.

Although I am not pursuing fashion design in college, I will always try to make my interest in the fashion industry a part of my life. This summer I am interning at Libra Leather, the largest supplier of fine leather in New York, while Jenn holds her New York Fashion Accessories camp upstairs. As I catch glimpses of the students working, I am reminded of all the time and effort I put into my four leather creations, my four faithful sidekicks.

You can see more of my designs at bagsbymorgan.tumblr.com. If you would like to sign up for a class with the New Jersey School of Fashion Design & Accessories, email Jenn at  jenn@nyfashionaccessoriescamp.com or call her at (973) 564-8792 . You can also visit www.nyfashionaccessoriescamp.com.