Tell me a little bit about the concept of your senior collection.
My collection is called ‘Pieces,’ and it is inspired by my multicultural background. I am from Lima, Peru and my dad is from Chile, and my brothers were born in Ukraine. I have had the chance to live in several cities. All the different people, experiences, moments, and places that I have been in are the pieces that make me who I am now. So I decided to translate this idea into my designs by having all of the different ‘pieces’ in my collection. I wanted to translate the idea of how all these smaller experiences are pieces of a larger puzzle for who I am as a person.
What was it like to develop this concept during the fall?
I wanted something true to who I am and something that could inspire me during this whole year of development- so I wanted something that could keep me motivated throughout this whole time. I remember developing two different concepts, one that explored my multicultural background and the other explored the effect of consumerism on the fashion industry. That is how “Pieces” came to be. I realized that by merging these two concepts, I could have a personal collection that stayed true to who I am, but it also addressed an impact regarding sustainability since pieces are interchangeable within the collection. You have 1,000 different ways to wear the items in this collection. And that targets the idea of overconsumption.
What was the development process like for you?
I was very intimidated by my idea, I had a vision, but I wasn’t 100% sure it would work. Having the idea of adding zippers to all the detachable pieces of the garments scared me. It was a lot of trial and error because I had to do a lot of measuring, calculating, and altering my patterns. It was also my first time making and even designing anything for menswear. Still, I wanted the idea of menswear and womenswear being interchangeable together. I had to design all the sleeves and collars separately and pay attention to styles, colors, prints, and fabrics to make sure that they would all look good when in all the different looks. I had to go through all the details and rethink things so much and I found myself redesigning things that I already had, going to my sketches again, and changing fabrics and entire looks and colors.
What was it like collaborating with an accessory design major for this project?
I collaborated with Gianluca Ambrosini because I wanted to include accessory design pieces in my collection to add to this street-style collection. So I talked to him, and he mentioned the idea of collaborating. I wanted to do two genderless bags, so we created one small pouch and one small tote bag. I think his designs complement my collection in every way possible, and it makes everything look cooler and adds to the overall aesthetic. Working together was just very easy; we had the same goal in mind and we just made sense with each other. He understood what I was looking for, and he gave me some ideas, and it was exactly what I wanted. Apart from the design itself, working with Gianluca had a very personal connection for me since we are both Peruvian designers. It was the perfect element to tie everything back to my concept and showcase how places and cultures are small pieces of who we all are.
Do you have any advice for the next batch of seniors making their collection?
Stay true to yourselves. Trying to get inspiration for a concept that lasts the whole year is overwhelming, and I had so much trouble narrowing down ideas toward what I wanted to do. What kept me motivated was that personal connection with my own story. So dig deep, listen to yourselves and stay true to who you are and the rest will fall into place.
Do you think your senior collection has prepared you for your post-grad career?
I think I’ve learned so much within this whole year, maybe even more than I’ve ever known before. Being back on ground made me learn so much more; Sourcing materials and fabrics and learning how to translate your design vision into physical things. It made me discover a new passion for menswear that I didn’t even know I had, and now I don’t think I’m ever going back- I love it. Having a vision of what a collection will look like is always exciting, but hard work and persistence are a part of it, and I think that’s the most important thing I take from this whole experience. It has also given me the amazing experience of teamwork and collaborating with incredibly talented people that were all part of the process. I still have so much to learn, but this year has given me the ability to believe in myself and step out of my comfort zone to make my ideas become a reality.
Congratulations to Micaela Olavarria for making it to the fashion showcase!
Interview conducted by Fai McCurdy.
Accessory Design by Gianluca Ambrosini.
Modelled by Jamila Jabulani, Shiloh Smith, Andrea Guth, Payton Smith, Jonathan Rubinstein, Samantha Moyet, Hannah Setzler, Eli Marshall, Ayden Behn.
Photography by Mateo Lara & Sarah Diaz.