Designs By Annalynn Luu

Tell me your story, where did it all start for you?

Six or seven years ago, if anyone told me that I was going to be a fashion designer, I would not have believed it. I had always known I wanted to be a part of the artistic industry, but never

had any expectations on what I specifically wanted to do. All my life, I’ve loved drawing and creating pieces with my hands. It wasn’t until my friend pointed out my penchant for drawing and designing clothing ­­that I started considering it as a possible career path. After

giving a bit of thought, it seemed like the only logical choice for me. The combination of creativity, functionality, and craft was exactly what I was looking for.

When did you decide you wanted to be a fashion designer?

It wasn’t until the very end of my high school days that I decided to fully commit to studying this craft and getting into the industry. It was then that I started looking into current trends, researching designers, and cultivating my own aesthetics.

What do you look forward to in a working day?

In addition to my personal collections, I work contract jobs for theatres and Halloween costume companies throughout the year to build my experience, skills, and network. In any working day, I always look forward to productive collaboration. Whether it comes from getting feedback about my designs, working together to finish a costume for stage, or meeting to discuss new lines and products, I feel the most accomplished when I am able to contribute as a part of a team working towards a bigger goal.

How often do you put out new designs?

Lately, I have been coming out with full­ fledged collections every other year due to time constraints. I hope to work up to eventually having one collection out every year. In between these full collections, I also make stand­alone garments whenever the inspiration hits.

Tell me about what you offer as far as products, custom work etc

A lot of my fashion and runway designs are one of a kind and made out of unconventional materials, but I do offer some custom commissions and jewelry. I’m currently working on revamping my Etsy website into a collective store so that I and a network of artistic friends can offer a broader range of products besides jewelry. I am planning to sell accessories, capes and capelettes, made­to­order pieces, and whatever art comes out of our collaborations (think painted canvas dresses, dolls, prints, etc.).

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Unprofessional-ism/disrespect. This industry is very project and collaboration based. As a young designer, some individuals will treat you as their inferiors simply because they correlate the lack of experience as a lack of competence. While it is true that new designers are professionally inferior due to less experience in the workplace, the treatment expressed here focuses more on the derogatory nature due to a lack of respect towards the individuals themselves. I feel that anyone a part of the team, new or old, inexperienced or very experienced deserve the same treatment of respect when it comes to common courtesy.
In addition, this codependency is important in the industry because you never know where your coworkers will end up, and you could even end up working for them in the future. As prior experience usually

determines with whom we want to work in the future, there’s really everything to gain and nothing to lose treating people with professionalism and respect.

How would you describe your aesthetic? Has it evolved over time?

I’ve always seen myself as a fashion designer, costume designer, and fine artist rolled into one. A lot of my designs have an avant garde feel to them in terms of materials and silhouettes. I like to mix soft feminine silhouettes with a dash of dark edginess. Every once and a while I like to throw in some whimsical quirkiness as well.

My design process is very much intertwined with storytelling. Conceptually, I like to develop characters around which I can create one or more collections that tell stories. This connection I create between my collection and storytelling allow me to cohesively build upon my designs in various different levels. Not only do I take into account the physical aesthetics of a collection, but I also consider the psychological, geological, and practical aspects that would influence the design. Essentially, the life that comes from a full­ fledged collection is completed with the individual wearing the garments.

As for the evolution of my designs, I have never seen it as a drastic change in design but more of a refining process in my aesthetics. The more collections and pieces I design, the more I feel them moving toward a clearer expression of who I am as a designer. It is as if the pieces of a puzzle I have been working with are slowly fitting together into a more solid form.

Top career moments so far?

Being able to show my collection with such amazing artistic individuals. Participating in art shows and collaborating with groups are huge for me. I feel like every hurdle I successfully cross is a cause for celebration. Whether it’s landing a new job or finishing a project, I’m always learning something and that’s always positive.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Typical days for me change like the seasons. When working for companies, it’s the usual eight hour a day work week. Meeting with teams and planning and executing tasks that will bring us towards our goals. I usually take a mental break in the evening from the daily mental sprint and work a little on small personal projects or relax.It’s a bit different when working on personal projects or fashion shows because the routine is a little more intense. Since I usually work from home, I don’t have a studio or the complete tools of the trade that companies spoil us with, so there is some improvising that takes place. While the design process is more flowing and relaxed, once I reach the construction and deadline stage, my working hours jump from 8 to around 12 or 16.

How would you describe your personal style?

My personal style leans more towards the professional and practical, with a slight hint of edginess. I like classic silhouettes paired with some tights and heels or, depending on the occasion, boots. When I’m not out and about, I love lounging in large comfy sweaters and loose tights.

When you are not designing, what do you enjoy doing?

I am most inspired by books, art, music, and nature. Simply put, I like to immerse myself in things that inspire me.As mentioned earlier, storytelling is a large and important part of my design process. So, it comes as no surprise that I love to read and write. The profound layers in a beautiful work of literature and the styles of prose by different authors offer me an invaluable amount of inspiration. I love the challenge of taking these complex themes in books translating them into abstracted storytelling through clothing. Moreover, the mental exercise I receive from writing not only gives me a break from the mental design process, but it also helps me explore different ideas and thoughts which I can later develop into future collections.

In addition to reading and writing, I am a huge dabbler in the arts. I like to try everything because they all inspire me and allow me to express different aspects of myself depending on the medium. Dabbling allows me to place myself in the shoes of others professions and better understand who they are and why they would choose certain methods of expression. By extension, I also thoroughly enjoy experiencing these methods of expression as a part of the audience. I am a huge fan of live performances, and whether they’re concerts, plays, or any type of performance, I find it inspiring. There’s something I find indescribably precious about the being a part of the direct connection between the performers and the audience. I love the challenge of taking inspiration from these diverse artistic expressions and transforming them into my designs. I also love to go hiking. My inspiration from nature comes from its natural atmosphere, beauty, and its

universal connection. It’s also a great place to take a break and mentally recover from everyday life.

Fashion is a very competitive industry, have you ever had moments where you wanted to quit?

I have never felt like I wanted or needed to quit because I feel like I have so many paths open to me at this time.

What tips would you give to a budding fashion designer?

While I still feel like I’m a budding designer, I can definitely share what I’ve learned and try to live by. First and foremost, you have to stick with it. Know what you want and pursue it. It doesn’t have to be a very clear cut goal planned out to the minute details. As long as you have an idea of where you want to be and what you want to do, I feel that the goal will become clearer the closer you get to achieving it. There’s something so inspirational about having a dream and goals to reach that dream that I find it so sad when people abandon it.

Be open. You never know who can become the catalyst in opening the door toward your goals or which jobs can do the same. With good and bad experiences, you will learn from both and can therefore adjust your mindset accordingly. Building a network is immensely important. Do not burn any bridges if you do not have to and make an effort to genuinely connect with others from the industry. There are so many creative individuals with whom you can network and collaborate that a constant effort to keep up with your networks is a MUST.

Respect. While fashion is a global industry, it is smaller than it seems. You will end up running into and working with certain individuals various times throughout and therefore a nice healthy respect for them as professionals and for the industry is huge. While it is likely you will not like everyone with which you work, a strong sense of professionalism can make the difference between whether or not a team wants you to be part of a project.

Check out more of her work here:

http://www.modelmayhem.com/annalynnluu