I would say that my grandmother has inspired me to pursue an education in fiber and material studies. Growing up, she would sew anything you could think of: dresses, pillows, curtains. In her prime, she was very skilled and in high demand. I think she’s always been an inspiration for me. When I was younger she taught me how to sew simple things like little dolls and pillows though it never stuck. Later in life, I had a friend show me some of her finished crochet garments. I expressed to her that I would love to learn something similar and that I’ve been looking for an activity that I could hone in on. I was never really one for drawing or painting or anything else artistically charged. She told me that it was a lot easier than I thought and if I gave it a shot, then I’d probably like it and she was right. I didn’t start out crocheting. I taught myself how to knit first and then later on how to crochet, spin, weave, and even sew. I find that I love the process of creating garments or accessories for myself and my friends. I think that it’s very fulfilling and being able to use a functional finish project made entirely by myself is still mind-blowing. This scholarship will help me in attending the program of my dreams and after touring the college campus I am sure it’s the place for me to continue my education. I’ll have access to state-of-the-art dying labs, knitting machines, and floor looms all machinery that I would otherwise not be able to use. I’m excited to learn the process of turning plans to dye, dying wool and working up to a finished project thats marketable. The university’s location in the city also allows me access to a wider variety of like-minded individuals who I could work with to further my education and career prospects.

As a textile fashion and apparel designer/student I know that the fashion industry is the top contributor to climate change and mass environmental destruction. The introduction of synthetic fibers while beneficial to the longevity of a garment is taking its toll on our environment and causing harm to our physical bodies. I want to see a push toward more natural animal and plant-based fibers as well as an incline in recycled, natural fibers. In a lot of big fashion brands, they are doing what’s called greenwashing lying to their target audience that a product is more naturally resourced than it is. For example, they might have a dress that they state is made of 100% recycled materials. The top layer of the dress will be 30% recycled cotton and 70% recycled polyester and the lining of the dress 100% recycled polyester. I would like to be an inspiration as a designer so that we can start moving away from harmful synthetics and start caring more about where we’re sourcing our fibers from. As more and more individuals become aware of the environmental and ethical impacts that fast fashion has on our society. I think that this is obtainable in the near future. I want to be able to create garments that are designed to last using high-quality and durable materials to extend the lifespan of said garment. I’ve already begun teaching social and environmental consciousness to those around me, offering knitting and crochet lessons as well as mending. As a former Girl Scout, the importance of being able to provide for oneself was instilled from a very young age these are all skills that as a society were once prominent and necessary to survive. As the cost of living skyrockets, and there are more pressing matters at hand than unaffordable fashion, clothing isn't a top priority for most. I want to be able to teach people the skills that they need to not just survive but to thrive as creative individuals. In an attempt to reduce my own personal carbon footprint via the fashion industry, I have ceased purchasing clothes that are not made of 100% natural fibers. I have begun spinning, my own yarn with a wool that is locally sourced from a farm where I have personally met and fed the animals that I am receiving my fiber from. I have also started a small backyard dying garden so that I can color my natural fibers using my own organically source material.

As a textile fashion and apparel designer, I know that the fashion industry is the top contributor to climate change and mass environmental destruction. The introduction of synthetic fibers while beneficial to the longevity of a garment is taking its toll on our environment and causing harm to our physical bodies. I want to see a push toward more natural animal and plant-based fibers as well as an incline in recycled, natural fibers. In a lot of big fashion brands, they are doing what’s called greenwashing lying to their target audience that a product is more naturally resourced than it is. For example, they might have a dress that they state is made of 100% recycled materials. The top layer of the dress will be 30% recycled cotton and 70% recycled polyester and the lining of the dress 100% recycled polyester. I would like to be an inspiration as a designer so that we can start moving away from harmful synthetics and start caring more about where we’re sourcing our fibers from. As more and more individuals become aware of the environmental and ethical impacts that fast fashion has on our society. I think that this is obtainable in the near future. I want to be able to create garments that are designed to last using high-quality and durable materials to extend the lifespan of said garment. I’ve already begun teaching social and environmental consciousness to those around me, offering knitting and crochet lessons as well as mending. These are all skills that as a society were once prominent and necessary to survive. As the cost of living skyrockets, and there are more pressing matters at hand than unaffordable fashion, clothing isn't a top priority for most. I want to be able to teach people the skills that they need to not just survive but to thrive as creative individuals.