Carlo Pardo is a SCAD-Grad Powerhouse. As a 2019 graduate in Fashion Marketing, Pardo has made extensive strides in the industry and currently sits as an Assistant Concept Designer for Ralph Lauren. Through his education at SCAD, Pardo has taken advantage of his creative schooling and garnered several achievements and valuable industry experience that has taken him to work for brands like Marina Moscone, Coach, and more.
We look forward to Pardo’s future success and are incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to learn from him and gain some of his insight on his experiences. Continue on for the full interview:
How did SCAD help establish your career, and/or what did you take from SCAD that helped in your job search (or career)?
(Do you find that your success has been linear, or has it taken you to places you’ve never thought you’d be working in?)
I would like to answer these questions together because my learning at SCAD and professional growth was very symbiotic.
Whenever I left SCAD for a job or an internship, I felt like I had so many more skills in my arsenal, like understanding Adobe better, physical construction, or elevated research and taste levels. I was able to impress the teams I was working with by applying everything I had learned in previous quarters and internships. It then became a kind of continuous cyclical growth. Both school and my work in the industry have been so necessary for my growth. Together, they exposed me to elements of creative jobs in fashion I would have never known about otherwise.
What was the biggest break or turning point that allowed you to be where you are now?
Honestly, this is probably one of the more insane stories I have in my work history. For my first big internship in fashion, I applied to a company in Paris, and my (then) soon to be bosses emailed me a month later that they would be putting me on a plane in 24 hours to come and work for them that upcoming season. It was there I discovered a way of working in design, marketing, and merchandising that resonated with how I think about clothing and accessories. The whole experience was very validating for me in affirming that I have the mindset and gusto to pursue a fashion career.
Are there any artists that influenced or have inspired you and your work?
I am someone who is always looking to build a world or immerse myself in someone else’s. I’m always drawn into the worlds of Oscar Wilde, Juergen Teller, and Issey Miyake, as they’re some of the first creative works that I either experienced on a visceral level.
What is your favorite project you have worked on since leaving SCAD?
Every time my team develops a new collection, it becomes my favorite professional project yet, and truly the best part is sharing it with Ralph. Hearing all of his feedback and absorbing the direction he gives is such an exceptional experience, and I know I will think back to these meetings for the rest of my career.
As current SCAD students, what can we be doing now to help once we are in the industry?
Get comfortable with working on a project no one has asked or prompted you to do. The best way to stay sharp and passionate is to do work for yourself. You may work for a big corporation or another individual, but you are still your own artist.
What words of advice do you have for upcoming graduates about to enter the field?
The best part of bringing on new talent to a team is their fresh, untainted ideas come to the table. In my opinion, the best thing to do is have a very clear understanding of who you are as a creative and build up a visual arsenal of things you love and resources you have found useful thus far. Keeping this going throughout your career becomes a personal superpower.
Lastly, as an aside, if you were any clothing accessory, what would you be?
My 205 Calvin Klein metal cap-toe cowboy boots.
Special Thanks to Carlo Pardo
Interview Conducted by Lance Langel
Graphic by Day Toscano