Sara Shepherd, 2005 Fashion and Textile Design graduate, has recently been featured in 7×7 magazine and California Apparel News, showcased in GenArt’s Fresh Faces Fashion Show, picked up by M.A.C. at 387 Grove Street in Hayes Valley, and created an organic line for Eco Citizen Boutique at 1488 Vallejo Street.
Combining the creativity and tailoring of her British upbringing with American functionality and wearability, she focuses on unique design details, superb finishings and creative cutting techniques, that are truly grounded in the traditions of mens bespoke tailoring.
GenArt’s Fresh Faces in Fashion is a annual runway presentation that showcases up to eight emerging designers and up to four accessories designers in installations. The show takes place in the fall in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles, and in the spring in Miami. Designers are chosen for the show based on nominations from a selection committee of fashion industry professionals in each market. Designers “launched” by GenArt include Zac Posen, Rebecca Taylor, Julie Chaiken, Cloak, Louis Verdad, Milly, Twinkle, Duckie Brown, Sari Gueron, and Shoshanna. Jill Giordano, 2004 BFA Fashion Design, had her line gr.dano selected in 2006.
Its a wonder that Sara has any time to answer our questions!
So you were in the first group of graduates that showed collections during New York Fashion Week in 2005, what did you think?
I was working in NY at the time and I was walking my friend’s dog in Bryant Park one evening as they were putting up the tents – I cried, it was completely overwhelming!!! I hadn’t ever seen the tents or a show in New York so it just blew me away. I still can’t believe that we had the opportunity to show our senior collections in New York fashion week – it was the most amazing experience. All that you can imagine and more….
Favorite thing about New York City?
The energy, the people and the shopping. I also love to drive in Manhattan.
Favorite thing about San Francisco?
The laid-back attitude, the view of the city from Portola/Twin peaks, and the weather.
Favorite thing about the School of Fashion?
The teaching style I work best in (very honest but encouraging) combined with the fact that it’s in California.
Your great escape?
Horse riding
What are you working on now?
Autumn Winter 2008 collection and showing my family the sites in California (they’re visiting from England)
Tell us about your Spring ’08 line.
The inspiration is the story of Alice in Wonderland, but in a modern figurative way – the idea of the personal journey – I translated a number of elements from my trip through Europe this summer – the colour story is literally derived from the tale (the blues and whites traditionally associated with Alice and the reds come from the Queen of Hearts) – the curved seaming, bias cutting, and silhouette make reference to the characters in the tale and also the idea of playing with scale (the getting bigger, getting smaller etc.) –
Thank you Sara. Last question. What’s playing on your iPod?
Always a little bit of Everclear!!!
2005 Fashion and Textile Graduate Sara Shepherd’s Fall 2007 Line.Styled by 2002 Fashion and Textile Graduate Michael Carbaugh.
Photographed by Peter Z. Jones.
