Meet the 2019 University of Texas Fashion Designers

It’s University of Texas Fashion Show week and you know all the senior designers are putting their last-minute fashion details on their collections for the big show.  The twenty-eight senior design students will wind up of their senior year at UT to eventually move on to their respective internships and careers.

Model fittings

This show, “Matrix will be held the Frank Erwin Center on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

The annual show, organized by The University Fashion Group, will feature up to 140 original designs featuring garments inspired by the student’s personal design aesthetic, couture-inspired structures and whimsy influences.

Matrix will feature cutting edge designs that include digital prints, couture techniques and sustainability. “This year’s show will feature a special collection in honor of the University Co-op which is returning as a founding and title sponsor,” says faculty member Ockhee Bego, Director of the UT Fashion Show.

Matrix will also feature game-day inspired garments in the Longhorn Fever segment of the show.   Designers selected a UT Longhorn sports program to create a design that is both functional and comfortable while capturing the intrinsic nature of UT’s gameday spirit.

Additionally, the designers will feature a zero waste sustainability challenge.  The 28 one of a kind designs will be composed of pre and post-consumer textiles. All materials used for this challenge were donated by the Houston non-profit, Magpies and Peacocks.  TXA Assistant Professor, Jessica Ciarla, describes this assignment as vital to the fashion industry.   There is as a growing need to “challenge the traditional methods of design and think about innovative solutions for the growing waste in the apparel industry”, said Ciarla.

Designer Carlie Roberson fitting her model

The designers will be competing for lots of Texas fashion bragging rights as they hand out several awards, such as Most Wearable Collection and the coveted Best Collection.

Prior to the show the “World of Textiles and Apparel” event, curated by Assistant Professor Gail Chovan will take place in the Lonestar room. This exhibition will feature student designs and research projects, as well as the entries for the Kendra Scott Design Challenge.

Doors open at 5:30 pm, the in-house opening will start at 7 pm and the show will be broadcast LIVE on The Longhorn Network at 7:30 pm.

Congratulations to all the designers and we will see you at the end of the runway!

Fashionably Austin is a proud supporter of the UT Fashion Show for 19 years.

UPDATE:  Congratulations to all the designers who were recognized for their designs at the Matrix fashion show.

Matrix 2019 Awards
• Sustainable Wear, Honorable Mention: Aidan Beni
• Sustainable Wear, Best Design: Carlie Roberson
• Wearable Art, Honorable Mention: Lindsay Butler
• Wearable Art, Best Design: Christopher Johnson
• Mido Watches; Evening Wear Honorable Mention: Hunter Tanem
• Mido Watches; Best Evening Wear: Aidan Beni
• Austin-American Statesman; Bridal Wear Honorable Mention: John Goodman
• Austin-American Statesman; Best Bridal Wear: Rawan Al-Qarqaz
• The University Cooperative Society; Best Technical Collection Honorable Mention:  Hunter Tanem & Donna Silverio
• The University Cooperative Society; Best Technical Collection: Mitchell Kerbow
• Most Innovative Collection Honorable Mention: Gunner Lewis & Nicholas Mojica
• Most Innovative Collection: Carlie Roberson
• The University Cooperative Society; Most Marketable Collection Honorable Mention:  Sarah Kelly, Carol Lara & Ilana Wayne
• The University Cooperative Society; Most Marketable Collection: Lindsay Butler
• The University Cooperative Society; Best Collection 2019 Honorable Mention: Carlie Roberson
• The University Cooperative Society; Best Collection 2019: Mitchell Kerbow

Designer:  Donna Silverio

Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Guo Pei
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Late nights in the sewing lab
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Graphic Design
Favorite Junk Food: Instant ramen
Plans after Graduation: Move to New York and continue designing

The University Cooperative Society; Best Technical Collection Honorable Mention

Designer:  Mitchel Kerbow

Hometown: Grapevine, TX
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Yohji Yamamoto
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Seeing Sufjan Stevens at the Bass Performance Hall
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: I was headed towards Civil Engineering before I arrived in Fashion
Favorite Junk Food: Fried Chicken all day
Plans after Graduation: Intern in technical design in New York City

BEST COLLECTION 2019

Designer:  Nick Mojica

Hometown: San Antonio
Major: Textile and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Virgil Abloh
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Being able to experience college with my brother
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Culinary
Favorite Junk Food: Sixlets
Plans after Graduation: Gain experience with a company and gradually work towards my own brand

Most Innovative Collection Honorable Mention

Designer:  Aidan Beni

Hometown: Iraq
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Dior
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Working with three different textiles professors that built my experience since day 1 at UT
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Art
Favorite Junk Food: Chicken burger
Plans after Graduation: Working with designers to increase my knowledge and one day, built my own brand

Sustainable Wear, Honorable Mention and Mido Watches; Best Evening Wear

Designer:  Ilana Wayne

Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Changes all the time but currently Craig Green
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Participating in TXA in Paris.
Favorite Junk Food: Sour Skittles
Plans after Graduation: Move to New York City to work as a designer.

The University Cooperative Society; Most Marketable Collection Honorable Mention

Designer:  Anna Kraus

Hometown: Allen, TX
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Ralph & Russo
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Pulling all-nighters with all of the other designers
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Advertising
Favorite Junk Food: Burgers
Plans after Graduation: Continue with design—ideally bridal or activewear

 

Designer:  Lindsey Butler

Hometown: Longview, Texas
Major: Textiles and Apparel- Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Alessandro Michele or Brandon Maxwell
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Watching the Longhorns play in DKR.
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Interior Design
Favorite Junk Food: Sour Candy
Plans after Graduation: I will be moving to Los Angeles in June and will hopefully have an internship by then!

Wearable Art, Honorable Mention

Designer:  Bailey Berry

Hometown: Decatur, TX
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Alexander Wang
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Working under the direction of Professor Iris Apfel for the 2018 UT in NYC program
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Business
Favorite Junk Food: Ben & Jerry’s Milk & Cookies ice cream
Plans after Graduation: Moving to NYC to work for Collection XIIX

 

Designer:  A. Dio Greer

Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Alexander McQueen
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Working in costume crafts
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Costume technology
Favorite Junk Food: Zapp’s Voodoo flavored kettle chips
Plans after Graduation: Looking for work as an ager/dyer on film sets

 

Designer:  Sarah Kelly

Hometown: San Clemente California
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Maison Margiela
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Study Abroad in Paris with my professor Gail
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Something in the fine arts department
Favorite Junk Food: Jalapeno chips
Plans after Graduation: Be a designer either in NY or CA

The University Cooperative Society; Most Marketable Collection Honorable Mention

Designer:  Mattison Gotcher

Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design/ Radio-Television-Film
Favorite Designer: Maison Margiela
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Studying Abroad in Costa Rica
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Architectural Design
Favorite Junk Food: Cookies
Plans after Graduation: To be a Costume Designer

Designer:  Kelly Brabant

Hometown: Harrison, New York
Major: Textiles and Apparel with a business minor
Favorite Designer: Zimmermann
Most Memorable Memory at UT: late nights in the sewing lab
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Art
Favorite Junk Food: Sour cream and onion chips
Plans after Graduation: Pursue a career in design wherever that takes me

Designer:  Mia Barrera

Hometown: Grapevine, TX
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Colleen Atwood
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Getting accepted into UT as a transfer student.
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Costume Tech or Theatre
Favorite Junk Food: Pirates Booty Chips
Plans after Graduation: Get a Job! Hire Me Please!!

Designer:  Hunter Tanem

Hometown: Cleburne, TX
Major: Radio-Television-Film with a minor in Textiles and Apparel
Favorite Designer: Rei Kawakubo
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Watching my flat pattern junior design piece walk the 2018 UT fashion show, “Dimension”.
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Studio Art
Favorite Junk Food: Does chips and salsa count?
Plans after Graduation: Continuing in design, hopefully, a career in couture

The University Cooperative Society; Best Technical Collection Honorable Mention

Designer:  John Goodman

Hometown: Victoria, TX
Major: Textile and Apparel: Technical and Functional Design
Favorite Designer: Alexander McQueen
Most Memorable Memory at UT: A trip to NASA with AATCC to learn how the space suits are made and to explore innovative textiles for space exploration.
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Costume Technology
Favorite Junk Food: Pizza
Plans after Graduation: I am moving to New York to become a master pattern maker.

Austin-American Statesman; Bridal Wear Honorable Mention

Designer:  Gunner Lewis

Hometown: Houston
Major: Textiles and Apparel
Favorite Designer: Junya Watanabe
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Making an entire three-piece collection
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Print
Favorite Junk Food: Fries and a chocolate shake
Plans after Graduation: Get a big boy job and make big money

Most Innovative Collection Honorable Mention

Designer:  Daniela Guzman

Hometown: McAllen, TX
Major: Textiles & Apparel: Technical & Functional Design
Favorite Designer: Gianni Versace
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Meeting my lifelong friends
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Architecture
Favorite Junk Food: Hot Cheetos with Cheese & some pickle juice
Plans after Graduation: Internship, job and maybe graduate school

Designer:  Patty Lopez

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela and Christiansted, USVI
Major: Textiles & Apparel: Technical & Functional Design
Favorite Designer: Alexander McQueen
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Making amazing friends in the TXA department
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Materials Engineering
Favorite Junk Food: Chick-fil-A
Plans after Graduation: Design apparel/accessories for a fashion company or research textiles and technology

Designer:  Carlie Roberson

Hometown: McKinney, TX
Major: Textiles & Apparel: Technical & Functional Design
Favorite Designer: Iris Van Herpen
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Late nights in the lab with my peers
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Interior Design
Favorite Junk Food: Candy
Plans after Graduation: Design job in NYC, Austin, or LA

Sustainable Wear, Best Design

Designer:  Rawan Al-Qarqaz

Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Zuhair Murad
Most Memorable Memory at UT: The friendships I’ve made
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Accounting
Favorite Junk Food: Chili cheese fries
Plans after Graduation: Move abroad to work for high end/couture designers or grad school for smart textiles

Austin-American Statesman; Best Bridal Wear

Designer:  Sulhee Kim

Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Christian Dior
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Fashion show
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Psychology
Favorite Junk Food: Spicy rice cake
Plans after Graduation: Work in the fashion business

Designer:  Carol Lara
Hometown: Edcouch-Elsa Tx
Major: Textiles and Apparel Design
Favorite Designer: Iris Van Herpen, Alexander McQueen
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Designing alongside some of the most creative people I’ve ever met.
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Journalism
Favorite Junk Food: Lime Hot Cheetos
Plans after Graduation: Intern with Linda Asaf Designs

The University Cooperative Society; Most Marketable Collection Honorable Mention

Designer:  Annelle Gonzalez-Cazares

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Major: Textiles and Apparel
Favorite Designer: Betsey Johnson
Most Memorable Memory at UT: Working at Starbucks and late night sewing adventures
If I didn’t major in Fashion what would my major be: Dance, Nutrition, or Biology with a teaching track.
Favorite Junk Food: Instant Korean Ramen Noodles
Plans after Graduation: Internship in Austin, and developing my design aesthetic

Not pictured:   Tara Bordbar, Gustavo Zamarripa, Amanda Arrisola, Molly Goldstein, Christopher Johnson.

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