Say a little about yourself: [name, age, major]
Elizabeth (Beth) Esponnette, 22 years old, Fiber Science & Apparel Design
What is your line called?
Nomad
How many looks are there?
Nine looks, plus I wore my own design
What type of fabrics did you use?
A whole range! I was fortunate to receive technical fleece fabrics from Polartec for a lot of the jackets and nylon fabrics from W. L. Gore for a windbreaker and a few backpacks. I also bought a thick wool plaid knit for linings, spandex for skirts and pants, a light beige knit for most of the undershirts, and a four-ply crepe silk fabric for all ruffled pieces.
What inspired your line?
I was inspired by the concept of preparation. I admire people who are prepared for anything and everything. To me, the epitome of preparation is the ability to function and survive outside, namely in harsh conditions without shelter. I associate with people who are strong-willed and complain very little: the type of person with whom any backpacking excursion would be enjoyable. These friends of mine were the people that I envisioned wearing this clothing. I designed with their well-being and aesthetic in mind.
Where is the girl that's sporting your clothes going? [a club, hike, etc.]
Ideally, she's hiking/backpacking. There are a few looks from the line that would be better off frolicking in a field, but function is unfortunately sometimes sacrificed for aesthetic on the runway! All-in-all I worked hard to merge the two (function & aesthetic) into clothing that would be suitable either for everyday wear or for climbing mountains.
How long did it take to create your line?
I began designing the looks last fall and construction started in December. It took three months to make the line!
Did you have any setbacks?
I was forced to tote my sewing machine around the northeast with me throughout the semester because I was always off nordic ski racing with Cornell's team.
What inspired the hair styles of the models?
The people that I mentioned earlier that inspire me are strong and confident. I wanted the models to not only show their confidence through their movements, clothing and makeup, but also through the intensity of their hair. To me, the "mohawk buns" that each model wore symbolize a rejection for the norms of society. But they are not done distastefully. I feel like society should be rejected tastefully, which is how I hope the hair and my line came across. These girls want to ignore the unnatural world and immerse themselves in nature, but they don't want to be ugly or rude about it.
Who is the audience for this line that could be potential buyers?
I think the market for this line could be huge, considering a lot of the pieces are versatile from the indoors to outdoors. Women in the city who want protection in harsh conditions, yet still want a unique look would be interested in this line. And of course those who are interested in how they look (really, who isn't?) who are already shopping at outdoor wear stores like Patagonia, Columbia, and The North Face are potential buyers. I think that a line like this could bring spunk to the outdoors, but more importantly utility and function to everyday fashion.
How has CDL helped you as a designer through the years?
CDL has been an excellent way to showcase my designs to a larger audience than I would normally have through our department. It's always interesting to get feedback from people who haven't studied apparel because I'm so accustomed to hearing from experts and students with similar interests.
How did you feel to show your final collection at CDL last weekend?
I was so excited and ready for it. I have spent nearly four years rigorously studying apparel at Cornell and, although I have a mind full of knowledge about the field, it is nice to have a tangible piece to show for it. What made me even more excited was that my grandmother, my aunts, cousins and parents from all over the country attended the show!
Overall as a design student here at Cornell, what do you believe your greatest accomplishments have been?
My greatest accomplishments have centered around functional apparel. I am so interested in how clothing works, and especially how it works with the body. The biggest study that I have done thus far at Cornell involved firefighters and their turnout gear. Trying to understand the problems that firefighters are having with their clothing equipment has opened up my mind to what ideal protective equipment may entail.
What has been your favorite class?
That is a toughie! The class that was the most fun to go to was Professor Jirousek's Color and Surface Design of Textiles. It was completely hands-on and very experimental. The class that intrigued me the most and got me thinking more about what I would like to do in the future was Professor Hinestroza's Textiles, Apparel & Innovation. It showed me that it is hard to improve the world if you stay within the lines; you really need to challenge yourself to think differently in order to achieve substantial results.
Is there anything interesting that other students do not know about the FSAD department at Cornell?
There's plenty of interesting things that people don't know about the department! When I tell people things about what we do, I invariably hear moans of jealousy. It is likely because half of what we do is hands-on, whether patternmaking, draping, sewing, computing, sketching, bodyscanning, printing and dyeing or even burning and dissolving fibers. Even the non-hands-on learning is great because it ties in really well with the hands-on things that we do.
What are your plans for the future?
In the immediate future, I am hoping to work as a designer for an outdoor wear company. This job is perfect for me right now because of the focus on both function and aesthetics, as more and more people are incorporating outdoor wear into their everyday wardrobes. In the long haul, though, I would like to lead a "think tank" devoted to the concept of clothing. I think that how we dress ourselves is not questioned enough, and I believe that there are a million other ways to do so, some that could change the way we live for the better.
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