Meredith Acton Debuts Collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!
The Academy of Art University student discusses her fashion love affair, inspirations, Michael Azu, and more! -Evette Brown, BettyConfidential.com
Designing quality fashion pieces is Academy of Art University design student Meredith Acton's life. After dedicating more than a year to her passion, the emerging designer is unveiling her first collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
Inspired by Lewis Hine's early 20th century photographs of child workers living very adult lives, the fashion addict's newest collection is gasp-worthy. Before models own the runway in her designs, Meredith chats with us about life at the top of the fashion chain.
How did your fashion love affair begin?
It began because of my mom, who sewed a lot when she was younger. We always did projects with fabric, so I got to play around with different types of it. I started my own business in high school, took sewing lessons, and finally decided to pursue fashion in college.
When and how did you know that you wanted to pursue fashion as a career?
My first semester of college, I was an advertising major. Then, I transferred to Framingham State College in Massachusetts. When I visited the school, I took a tour. I saw all of their sewing equipment and different things and decided that fashion was what I needed to do.
I was viewing some of your fabulous work on the Academy of Art website. What sparks your creativity?
Every time we have a new project, I get to pick a new interest. I go to the library and the museum, look through art books and old photographs, and I get really inspired. I start sketching and figuring out how to take what I see and make it into clothes. I have a lot fun with the process. I love the research and sketching process.
Your collection was inspired by Lewis Hine's investigative photography of child laborers in the early 1900's. What about those photographs inspired you?
Growing up in Massachusetts, we always went on field trips to the old textile factories. We used to do what those kids had to do. The pictures reminded me of those schools trips and what I saw on them. What the kids wore interested me because they were doing adult jobs in adult clothes. These little kids were working so hard and that emotion was there in the pictures.
You have interned at Michael Azu London and have seen fashion globally. What can fashionistas learn from global fashion?
Michael Azu has very sophisticated and refined clothing that make women's bodies look so elegant. We need that "elegant woman" look in more of the fashion here. Michael has minimalist ideas, but the way he executes them makes everything look beautiful.
You are preparing to debut your collection at Fashion Week! What demographic of women are you gearing the collection towards?
It is geared towards women in their mid-twenties who are sophisticated, who are confident in who they are, and who love quality craftsmanship.
For this collection, you are mixing traditionally utilitarian and refined fabrics. How did you decide on what fabrics to use?
I decided on what fabrics to use based on the images I saw for inspiration. I used a lot of stripes and different fabrics to give the collection an antique look. I mixed a lot of fabrics to go back to the idea of what these grown-up kids wore to work and how they transitioned it from day to night. I used some silk with pieces of cotton because the kids' look wasn't complete, but still had lots of fabric.
Do you have any tips to offer young women who are interested in pursuing fashion design as a career?
Anything you see around you, collect it. I have images from everything so I will have always inspiration. If you want to do fashion, you have to be organized and develop time-management skills because everything takes a lot of time. Be prepared to work hard and keep your eye on the prize.
Outside of the debuting of your collection at Fashion Week, what else can we look forward to seeing from you?
Hopefully, another collection! After this show, I'm putting together an online portfolio of my work.
Evette Brown is a regular contributor to BettyConfidential.
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