Interview with Capstone student Gabriella DeBlasio

Gabby is one of a kind and I'm so honored to have had her in my classes. She's smart, grounded, and has a great work ethic. Gabby's work ranges between knitting and weaving and she has proven to be quite adept at both. I can't wait to see where she ends up applying her skills post-graduation.

How did you choose Textile Design as a major?

When I was in high school, I wanted to be a chemist because Chemistry was the only class that I actually enjoyed. During my senior year, I took fashion as an elective and I was encouraged by my teacher to combine chemistry with my new love for fashion. I came to PhilaU on a tour interested in Textile Engineering. When I sat down with an advisor as part of the tour, I asked to hear about all of the textile majors that were offered. She handed me a few documents that outlined each major in detail. I read through them and said that I wanted to major in Textile Design and I have never looked back! 

Are there any techniques in textile design you’d like to explore further?

I would love to explore weaving more in-depth. I had so much fun playing with double cloth on the handlooms and I'd like to try again with more intricate drafts.

What do you have on your knitting machine/loom/sketchbook today?

Currently, I am hard at work making some garment swatches for my capstone collection. When I have some free time to knit for myself, I am working on knitting some monofilament pillows. I am passionate about sustainability, especially reusing and reducing waste. After understanding how much yarn scraps are wasted in the textile industry, I thought about how I could use yarn scraps so they wouldn't have to be thrown away. I'm working on creating a tubular knit monofilament casing and then stuffing it with yarn scraps that I have collected from the studio.

What would you like to be doing in 5 years?

I want to be an Apparel Designer in knits and/or wovens. Although, I think I would be happy in a lot of different areas of the industry!

 How does your personal aesthetic influence your design work? Do you think it should?

My personal aesthetic is pretty wacky. I primarily gravitate towards the vibe of my capstone collection. I like soft and comfy things and especially anything that is olive green. I also love mismatched things, crazy geometrics, and vibrant colors. I wear mismatched socks every day and I have for most of my life. My personal aesthetic is all over the spectrum, so I am able to use this to my advantage when designing. I can adapt any concept or idea to fit into my style and design aesthetic. Really good design is when you can see a piece of the designer or artist within their work. When there is a personal connection and excitement to make something, the design is so much stronger.

What surprised you the most about Textile Design at Philau/Jefferson?

The first time I had heard of Textile Design was on my first tour of PhilaU. I read a small description of it and within thirty seconds I had chosen it as my major. I didn't fully understand what my major was until my sophomore year, just because the industry is so large and unknown to the average person. After I was immersed in it and began creating fabric is when I really started to understand what I had chosen to do for a living. I was happily surprised that I chose the perfect major without fully understanding what it was when I chose it. 

What is your favorite thing about Textile Design?

When I see a cool textile, whether it be a shirt, a scarf, or a blanket, I already have my hands on it to try and figure out what it is and how it has been made. I am constantly reminded that I chose the right path because cool fabrics make me excited! My favorite thing about Textile Design within Jefferson is definitely working with my peers and faculty. The studio culture is unmatched and we have created a little family within our major.

To follow Gabby's designs, check out her website and Instagram below.

www.gabrielladeblasio.com

www.instagram.com/gabsfabrics

Innovative Home Studio Work by Textile Design students

A lot has been said about the pros and cons of working and schooling from home. We’ve all experienced ups and downs but now as we near the end of the semester, I think we are all starting to get the hang of it. Many folks questioned how our design students would continue their studio practice away from the studio and the equipment. I’m excited and proud to show you a selection of some of the amazing work they are doing at home using what they have available to them. Our students are truly innovative. They are making, creating, designing, and producing amazing work from their bedrooms, kitchen tables, and home studios.

Scroll through the gallery below to see examples of some amazing work by our Textile Design students. The students highlighted in this post are Christina-Marie Kreibich, Sofia Turco, Olivia Pagnotta, Nathalie Bouchard, Nicholas Hammerschmidt, DanJuma Ochai, and Bennett Purdy.

 

Kara Beckner taking over Jefferson's Instagram account!

Be sure to check out Jefferson University's Instagram account on Friday, May 1st! Textile Design graduate student, Kara Beckner, will be taking over the university's account to share what inspires her work, her weaving and textile processes, and the ways she keeps creating while sheltering in place. 

Skip on over to Jefferson University's Instagram page, jeffersonuniv, and don't forget to tune in on Friday. You can find Kara's professional IG account here, krbknr. Be sure to give her a follow! And as always, you can see regular Textile Design happenings over on our own Instagram page, textiledesignatjefferson.

Interview with Capstone Student Nick Hammerschmidt

Introducing Nick, one of our graduating students. The first thing one notices about Nick is his good-natured personality. He's quick with a smile and always willing to help out, give feedback on someone's work, or have a laugh with other students. As the head SGA President, he always puts his peers first. It's been a real pleasure getting to know Nick and his zany personality.

My name is Nick Hammerschmidt, and I'm a native of Cherry Hill, NJ. I am a textile designer with a strong focus on wovens and prints. I love design and art and hope to one day be a head designer at an established brand or be the creative director of my own company. Textiles are amazing, and I think everyone should learn that.

Tell us about the colors, landscapes, artists, or architecture that inspire your design work.

When working with colors, the start of my palette begins with blacks and whites, and from there, I introduce shades of the primaries. I think in design, especially textiles, having a strong color palette is the foundation for good work. Joan Miro, the Spanish surrealist, is always a great inspiration to me. An interview he did that was put into print is something I return to a lot to read and get inspired. One of the main inspirations within my design work is film; films directed by Wes Anderson, Stanley Kubrick, and Bong Joon-ho are some films that have inspired my past and current work. 

What is your favorite book of all time?

My favorite book of all time is A Brave New World. It's dystopian fiction, but unlike many other dystopian fiction novels, there's a lot of humor in it while still remaining intellectually pungent. Its something that always keeps me trying to interject some humor and fun into my work even when tackling some tougher subject matters. 

What's the best piece of advice you've received from another designer?

The best piece of advice I've ever received from another designer is not to take yourself too seriously and to have fun with design. Value yourself and your work but do not overvalue or inflate your self-image as a designer.

Are there any techniques in textile design you'd like to explore further?

Dyeing and Embroidering techniques are two types of textile art I'd like to explore further. 

What would you like to be doing in 5 years?

I'd like to professionally design textiles or products for fashion, whether that be footwear, accessories, or the clothes themselves.

How does your personal aesthetic influence your design work? Do you think it should?

I think this depends on the subject matter/inspiration that is informing my work. If it is something I know very well and aligns with my personal aesthetic, I should not ignore that and embrace it. With that being said, I think it is very important to be able to design outside of that comfort zone. Being able to successfully design within different aesthetics is an incredibly valuable skill to have as a textile designer.

What kind of music do you listen to in your headphones?

It depends, but I mostly listen to albums all the way through instead of creating a playlist. Some of my favorite artists to design with are PUP, Idles, Remember Sports, Vundabar, Brockhampton, Tyler, The Creator, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

What surprised you the most about Textile Design at Philau/Jefferson?

The community and friends I've made along the way. That sounds cliche, but seriously the people I've met here in our program have become amazing friends and incredibly inspiring designers. I've really enjoyed the studio culture that has been cultivated at PhilaU/Jeff.

What is your favorite thing about Textile Design?

The versatility of textiles is really inspiring and daunting all at once. The potential for both technique and end-use is virtually endless, and I think that is so inspiring but also disorienting. I feel like I never learn enough, so I can't wait to continue exploring.