Guided Magazine Issue 4 Guided Magazine Issue 4 | Page 26

Morgan - “Would you ever consider designing men’s apparel?” April - “I would love to design menswear. For this collection, I have some unisex pieces including a jacket and a shirt. I undoubtedly think it’s a market that I need to further explore. When I was in middle school I sewed bowties for my dad and brother, and through the years I’ve sewn boxer shorts and pocket front shirts for close friends.” Morgan - “Would you ever consider doing a show for Greene A/W 2017?” April - “I am actually in the works of producing a show for Greene A/W 2017. It’s coming in November 2017 and I’ve been anticipating this event for months. It's been a really challenging process this time around but it’s also been really exciting and satisfying to see everything fall into place perfectly. My main focus right now has been working on making the show embody the collection so well.” Morgan - “What is your favorite piece you have made from your most recent collection?” Morgan - “What can we expect out of the collection?” April - “My absolute favorite piece I’ve designed for Greene A/W 2017 is a faux snake skin vinyl skirt named James II. It’s a variation of my original mini skirt James I, but this version features large pockets at the side. She’s a really electrifying skirt, she pairs perfectly with an oversized sweater tucked into the waist and oxfords for a chill campus look, or with a bodysuit and wood stacked heeled booties for a night on the town.” April - “With this collection, expect lots of teenage girl influence. Growing up, I was always so fascinated by black girls and women that I saw in film and television. It’s kinda been a mixture of if Dionne Davenport from Clueless, Jodie Landon from Daria, or Vanessa Tompkins from The Bernie Mac Show were all living in today’s world as teenage girls. I want to embody the effortless confidence that those characters possessed.” Morgan - “What inspired your most recent collection?” Morgan - “Who is your favorite designer or piece featured in fashion week?” April - “I was heavily inspired by teen hood for this collection. As I am braving my last two years of being a teenager, this collection is kind my memoir looking back. I'm revisiting a lot of the styles and fads that I ventured into over the years and saw in film and television. In high school I loved 70s trends like mini skirts and cropped jackets, and materials like vinyl and suede.” Morgan - “Do you have any advice for the people who may be looking into starting fashion design?” April - “I was absolutely in awe of the spring summer 2018 collections I’ve seen thus far. Almost every night before going to bed, I watch two or three runway shows simply because there are soooooo many to keep up with. I’m a huge Valentino stan haha, and I loved the color scheme of the menswear and resort collections. I was really impressed by Fenty x Puma SS18, I really loved the versatility of each look. But by far, my absolute favorite piece was from Tom Ford SS18 RTW. It was a statement, shoulder padded, jewel encrusted shift dress modeled by Binx Walton. I loved how simple it was, with silver jewels from the neck down to the waist, and then waves of bright blue jewels engulf the hips and lower sleeves.” April - “I do have some advice for those who are looking into starting fashion design. One, sketch every single day and never throw away old sketches. While setting up my new studio space I found so many old designs from early middle school and it’s so inspiring to see my growth and how my aesthetic and skills have evolved over the years. The most growth I’ve seen in myself is when I was either sewing or sketching every single day for weeks. It’s also helped shape me into the designer I am today by seeing the common themes and styles I am still designing with today. Two, learn as many ways to insert closures (zippers, buttons, hook and eyes, etc.) as possible. You never know when it’ll come in handy. Three, the most important skill to have as a designer is confidence. Be proud of everything you produce, regardless if it's a quick sketch, a detailed spec sheet, or a full scale fashion show. Take pride in your passion and push yourself every single day.” www.aprilgreeneapparel.com/ 23