Memory of the Waters
In Dominic Godina’s first year as a fashion design major at the Academy of Art University, he was required to take a knitwear course solely as part of his prerequisites. However, something about its creative possibilities, especially the capacity to add texture in ways conventional materials cannot, drew him in, to the world of threads, yarn, and bulky industrial machines where a few yards of yarn and a couple of knitting needles could create the intricate silhouettes and oceanic tones now fitted onto Godina’s dress forms. After encouragement from his instructor at the start of his journey at the School of Fashion, they suggested he take it further.
End goal? Like many designers’ dreams, the creative director of a fashion house will play a part in his success story.
The knitting machines are often the culprit of most knitwear artists’ struggles. Godina expressed the difficulties between man and mechanism he had in the process; he was reaching towards creating a silk-like texture that is close to impossible by hand. But to achieve this without some breakdowns is close to impossible as well.
Vision-wise, Godina has a fantasy fairytale perspective rooted in his experience in costume design through his high school plays. He began to appreciate the art of feminine textures, silhouettes, and corseting with soft palettes. His collection “Memory of the Waters” celebrates the feeling of being nurtured when connecting with nature. Moss, wisteria trees, vines, and the ocean were the forefront of Dominic’s inspiration when creating his designs. In each look there are repetitions of patterns and textures to highlight nature’s amazing fractal structure. Living in San Francisco, he feels a special connection with nature he didn’t experience before in his life, and he felt inspired to translate this through his thesis collection.
When describing his unique approach, Dominic shared: “ I wanted the process of creating my collection to also have a connection to nature, so I put an emphasis on what our human hands can do. The majority of my garments is handmade by strategically crocheting each look right on the body which resulted in forms that cannot be replicated by machine, since before machinery we had our hands.”
Godina’s skillset is decidedly impressive, but every creative still has doubts: “I compare myself a lot to other knitwear students because they may know more. But most of the designers I love are really independent; this helps me psych myself out of it because a lot of them just start from the ground up.” Godina’s concerns regarding his future in the competitive fashion industry are often remedied by the stepping stones his idols took, like Alexander McQueen. He mentions that adopting the position of creative director of iconic fashion houses (notably McQueen) is one of his dreams, but nothing compares to building his own empire.
With graduation on the cusp, Godina still feels there is an immense amount of knowledge to attain. After receiving his bachelor’s he plans to push toward his master’s degree at the Institut Francais de la Mode. “There’s just so much more that I want to learn to be able to enter the high-end fashion houses like knowing how to operate computerized knitwear and the Dubied Machine.” With extreme appreciation and praise for his instructors, he expressed that no matter the kind of designer, the technique of knitwear will consistently elevate their work. He encouraged ArtU to continue inspiring other students with opportunities like these. For Godina, the 2025 Spring Show is only the beginning.
Words by Brie Parker, B.F.A. Fashion Communication and Styling
Runway photography by Ed Jay.
Conceptual Makeup Lead: Chelsea Mari Heintzman. Hair & Makeup Team Produced by Brandi Moore Agency. Lead Hair: Brittany Jordan. Lead Makeup: Lilia Christo-Ferrigno . Makeup Product: Morphe.
