Nayeli Acosta-Aviles

Responsibilities

This internship is treated more like a mentorship and I am involved in all aspects of the business. I work with custom garments and I'm involved during the whole design process starting with client consultation, patternmaking, fittings, and ending with the final garment. I also source fabric for different projects and clients so they can choose what they like best for their clothes. I also help with clothing alterations for Gretchen's clients. Additionally, we have been working and planning for her upcoming fashion show in the fall.

Accomplishments

I think my greatest accomplishment during my internship experience has been completing several of my projects where I design and created custom garments in my size. I designed a slip dress in order to practice working with bias. A pair of wide-leg pants to practice patter making and sewing a fly zipper. And lastly, I made a leather jacket which is something I haven't made before. I'm also very proud of my involvement with the garments that will be used in the upcoming fashion show in the fall.

Learning experience

This internship has thought me a lot about the reality of having your own business, working for yourself, and making custom garments for all different types of clients. Watching Gretchen interact with clients, do fittings and planning out her schedule has been very beneficial. As someone who wants to do something very similar to this in the future, I appreciate these lessons a lot.

What advice would you give?

I think AMD students should always be nurturing their creative side, whether it's by staying on top of trends and fashion news or by constantly sketching out ideas it's very important to practice these skills. Also, it's important to remember that fashion like any art is subjective so if someone doesn't like your style or aesthetic doesn't mean everyone will feel the same way.