The Coshocton County Beacon January 17, 2018 - Page 11

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JANUARY 17, 2018
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Elisha Hamric will take a whole new perspective on fashion back with her to Kent State
University for her spring semester. The 2015 River View High School graduate spent
THE BEACON 11
Contributed | Beacon
the fall semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy and also traveled to New York for a
gala that was part of the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund.
Hamric gathers fashion experiences in Europe and New York
By Josie Sellers
[e-mail]
COSHOCTON - Elisha Hamric will take a whole new per-
spective on fashion back with her to Kent State Universi-
ty for her spring semester.
Th e 2015 River View High School graduate spent the
fall semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy.
“I took the same classes I would have had at Kent State
(in Ohio), basic Italian, toured European cities and was
exposed to fashion, art and culture there,” said Hamric,
a junior at Kent who is majoring in fashion design and
working toward a minor in business. “Th e architecture
was so interesting too because it’s so diff erent from
ours and stuff you see there is so much older than our
country.”
Including Italy, she got to see six countries while living
overseas.
“Th ey were all pretty unique, but I’d say Switzerland
was my favorite because it was my last trip after all my
projects were done and was the most relaxed,” Hamric
said. “It also was one of the more adventurous. I got to go
winter kayaking and paragliding.”
While her time in Europe made for great memories, it
also helped her build her resume.
“It was nice to just have that experience over there
because a lot of companies enjoy seeing that on your re-
sume and they also look to Europe for fashions,” Hamric
said. “A lot of top designers start over there.”
Th e experience also helped her push herself.
“Th e classes over there were smaller and I got to know
a l lot more people in my major and others over there,”
Hamric said. “Th e professors were always trying to
push us to our limits and see where we could go with
our designs. It expanded my mind to all the possibilities
I could do, but I think I will stick with women’s wear
opposed to children’s or men’s.”
She also learned more about sustainable fashion.
“It’s up and rising in the fashion industry and about
being good for the environment,” Hamric said.
In addition to recently returning from Europe, she
also took a trip to New York for a gala that was part of the
YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund.
“Th ey help push you into the right direction for your
future,” Hamric said. “You are given a case study that
you have six months to work on. It’s a 10 page paper and
you have to make a collection.”
At the gala she got to meet many professionals in the
world of fashion and speak to a number of recruiters
about internship possibilities.
Th ese, however, are just two examples of her journeys
into the fashion world. Th is past summer she also got to
participate in the Los Angeles Study Tour through Kent
State.
“It was a three week course where the fi rst two weeks
were spent learning about west coast fashion and other
related fi elds,” Elisha said. “Th e last week was spent in
Los Angeles where I toured the AG jeans factory and
met various business professionals who discussed the
fashion industry, their company and their story; profes-
sionals such as Joyce Azria (Avec Les Filles), BCBG Max
Azria Company, Mark Zunino (designer), and Eduardo
Castro (costume designer). It was very interesting to see
how west coast fashion diff ers from east coast fashion.”
She wanted to be sure to thank her mom and dad Lin
and Dave Hamric for helping her pursue her interest in
fashion.
“I always wanted to sew,” Elisha said. “I always went
shopping with my mom and liked the touch and feel
of fabric. It’s just something that always stuck with me
and I liked drawing, which is a big part of fashion and
design.”
Another person she thanks for helping her along the
way is Gail Piper who mentored her through 4-H. Elisha
spent 11 years in 4-H and did numerous sewing projects.
“Don’t let being in a small town stop you from where
you want to go or who you want to be,” Elisha said. “Both
studying abroad and the YMA Fashion Scholars