Alumni in Focus

Kelly Arsenian

Alumna Kelly Arsenian designs True Religion's stylish men's collection

Their signature stitching and Buddha-playing-the-guitar back label separates them from the crowd. True Religion Brand Jeans is defining cutting-edge style for the denim market, and Designer of Menswear Kelly Arsenian is behind the successful men’s collection. Kelly, who graduated from Newbury Park High School in California, joined the L.A.-based company in 2004, and designs four collections per year. “You can hold up a pair of True Religions next to any other premium jeans out there and see the difference,” Kelly says. “Our sewing details alone are revolutionary.” From jeans in denim, corduroy, and velvet to jackets, shirts, cashmere, and knits, the collection is getting bigger each season.

“Everyday I am thankful for such a wonderful opportunity,” she says of working for the denim brand, which is carried at stores such as Barneys New York, Fred Segal, Saks Fifth Avenue, and L.A.’s popular Kitson. “Not only have I grown and learned so much as a designer, but everyone here is so nice to work with and I think that is part of why True Religion is so successful; we are a big fashionable family here.” The brand was established in 2002, and quickly gained popularity for its fashion-forward seams, embroidery, hand-sanded vintage washes, and color. True Religion designs for men, women, and children, and their celebrity fans range from David Beckham and Usher to Gwen Stefani and Angelina Jolie.

Luckily, Kelly was prepared for this fast-paced, exciting career. “FIDM helped me attain the necessary CAD (Computer Aided Design) skills as well as a knowledge of garment construction and the different characteristics of fabrics,” she explains. “I use my Adobe Illustrator skills everyday.” Working closely with her patternmaker, Kelly says that having a solid understanding of garment construction and sewing are key for her job. After graduating from FIDM in 2003, Kelly worked for BCBG as a Soft Wovens Associate Designer and for Holmes Swimwear as an Assistant Designer.

At True Religion Jeans, Kelly looks to vintage books from the ‘60s and ‘70s, as well as to the fabric itself, which may inspire the next style or trend. “On a typical day I am running from the design room to the cutting table, fitting samples, meeting with vendors, and handing off samples for production,” she adds. “My responsibilities include everything from concept to production handoff.” In January, Kelly visited Florence and Barcelona to attend the major European trade shows. This wasn’t “your typical day-to-day stuff.”

Today, the most exciting part for Kelly is when she sees her designs come to life. “I was in Bloomingdale’s the other day when I saw a guy trying on one of our new hooded sweatshirts,” she explains. “I was imagining what was going through his head: does he like it, does he like the color, does it fit right? I was so delighted when I saw him bring it up to the register and buy it along with a pair of True Religion Jeans! It’s like coming full circle to see people wear designs you worked so very hard on for months and months. That is truly rewarding.”

www.truereligionbrandjeans.com

Please Note: The information contained herein was confirmed at the time of original publication.