On April 19, 2018, I was honoured to be invited to view KPU Wilson School of Design's 2018 The Show, a showcase of collections from the 31 students graduating from their fashion design program.In addition to a show overview HERE, I selected a few student grads to offer solo interviews with. Each stood out in their own way.
Today's interview is with Sandy Escalante. What I loved about her designs is they were not only great wearable, comfortable, stylish pieces - they were also uniquely convertible. Hooks down the side of a wider Capri length pant meant you could narrow them to a slim silhouette. Sleeve length on her top could go up and down. And one pant had a lower panel that could be removed to make them capris. All great ideas
Enjoy!
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Where
were you born, where did you grow up?
I
was born and raised in East Vancouver; however, my parents are from
El Salvador and I grew up speaking Spanish at home.
What
were you like when you were young?
I
am the youngest of 3 and I was very shy, soft spoken and had a big
imagination. I spent a lot of my childhood making crafts. I borrowed
books from the library, watched Art Attack on TV and tried to
recreate what I saw. I was always proud of my artwork and would bring
it to school for show and tell.
What were your interests in High School?
I
took textiles classes throughout high school. Most academic classes
and PE were not my strong suit, I tried everything to avoid running
laps! I excelled on the creative side, but at the time academic
courses were seen as more important so I felt like I needed to focus
on them more and put my creativity aside to do better in those
courses. The way I was able to actually express my creativity during
this time was through dress.
Looking
back, can you remember any signs that you would end up in fashion?
Even
though money was scarce growing up, my mom always ensured that we
were dressed in the latest trends. She was always fashion forward and
taught us that fashion, along with your overall appearance are forms
in portraying yourself and how you are perceived by others, in
addition to being comfortable in what expresses you. That really
stuck with me and peaked my interest in fashion. From then on I
started following trends and went through some interesting phases
until I found my personal style.
Talk
about when and how you decided to study fashion design. Was you
family supportive?
I
had a lot of family and friends encouraging me to pursue fashion,
however I wasn’t sure where it would take me as a profession. After
high school, I took time off to reflect and decide what would be the
right path for me.
Why
did you choose to study in the program at KPU Wilson School of
Design?
I
had a few friends who had been in the program at KPU and were
successful in the industry, and shared their experiences,
opportunities and challenges. After doing my own research about the
program and the job market in Vancouver, I was convinced that this
was the right place for me to obtain an education in design.
Talk
about your time studying Fashion Design. What was hard for you? What
was easy for you? Are there any high, low or funny moments you can
share?
During
my time studying Fashion Design, I learned a lot about the reality of
the fashion industry; the business, technical and creative side of
the processes. I learned how important it is to design with intent,
empathizing with a group of people through design by doing research
and analysis, producing a garment they need/want and marketing it to
them. Community and collaboration were an essential part in my
education that pushed my perspective and helped me improve. I was
lucky to be with a group of people who always tried to remain
positive through the stress and deadlines, whether it was through
jokes or sending memes.
What
was the inspiration for your grad collection? Share anything you'd
like readers to know?
In
my 3rd year at KPU, I studied abroad in Berlin and I lived in a very
small single dorm room, and in I traveled around Europe with only my
carry on bag. I noticed that most of the clothes I had and the
clothes I would pack for travel were all similar with slight detail
differences (95% of it was black). So, I had to be mindful of what I
was consuming, more than usual, because I was limited to space-and 50
pounds of luggage space for my trip back home. When I returned home,
I became aware of how little space my friends and friends of friends
had. In my research, I found that many people in Vancouver live in
homes that are 1000 square feet or less.
Describe
your collection?
ONE
IN TWO is inspired by limited space, decluttering and convertibility
for the modern day minimalistic woman aged 35-45; minimal in the
sense of owning fewer possessions and consuming fewer products. A
single product from this collection can be worn in up to two ways,
adopted from the idea of saving space and time. Subtle and effortless
minimalist details are showcased within the collection, allowing
individuals to manipulate the silhouette of the garments,
transforming the appearance from one look to the next.
What
is the palette? What fabrics did you use?
This
season I tried to stay away from black because she will already have
black in her closet. So the palette consists of colours within the
realm of minimalism, that are light and classic that can be
effortlessly transitioned through seasons. This collection includes
quality woven and knit fabrics such as wool silk and bamboo cotton
blends, that have the ability to last through wear and time along
with being lightweight for packability, storage and travel.
Additionally, these pieces have the capacity to be layered and worn
easily with one another along with what is already in her wardrobe.
Do
you have a favourite look?
I
like all the looks in this collection but my favorite would be the
white pants and crop jacket because it represents me as a person and
designer the best.
What
do you think you can bring to the fashion world that is new?
Hopefully,
I will encourage combining function from other areas of design (such
as technical apparel and accessories) with fashion and trends. I can
showcase how functionality can play a role in fashion without having
to sacrifice style. Along with increasing awareness of
over consumption and creating an expressive platform that people can
identify with.
Where
do you go from here – are you going to work for others for awhile,
launch your own line, take a break and travel?
All
of the above. After 4 years of full time school I definitely want to
take a bit of time to relax and regroup. Ideally I’d like to gather
experience from experts in the industry and my long term goal would
be to have my own brand and collection.
Links -
- Email - sandykescalante@gmail.com
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