Alumni
OBEY Mens Head Designer Mike Ternosky Recruits Menswear Alumnus Jake Zielinski
Jake Zielinski graduated from the Menswear program this quarter and was just hired for a design position OBEY Mens. Through skateboarding, Jake met Mike Ternosky, one of the main designers responsible for translating Shepard Fairey’s vision to OBEY. Jake has been working in menswear for the past three years and holds a degree in Apparel Industry Management from FIDM, as well.
Tell us about your new position at OBEY: Recently I was offered a design position by the head designer at OBEY Mens. I’ll do everything from choosing silhouettes, color, fabric, and over all design along with the other two head designers. I was luckily offered the job very casually by my boss, Mike Ternosky. He’s a legend in the community and an overall stand up guy. I met him through skateboarding in the morning with a crew of dudes that are all in the industry. So the whole process of getting the job was very organic and true. I also developed our relationship by working for Kyle Ng and Brain Dead.
Why did you choose the Menswear program? I chose the Menswear program because I love the over essence of Menswear as a whole. I knew In the future I’d be interested in making my own brand but wanted to design and work on someone else’s dime and I felt the Menswear program would be a good place to start developing ideas and practice.
Describe your thesis collection: My Menswear collection at the end of the day is very sleek, raw, and textured. I am very inspired by brands like Acne Studios, Japanese workwear, and subcultures I grew up in. So I wanted to make a collection that reflected those things and make garments I personally like. I chose classic styles while giving them a nice texture with fabrics coming from Japan. Something that raw skaters, surfers, punks, and hip hop heads would find interesting while also grabbing eyes of people with a knowledge of fashion.
Any advice for anyone considering the Menswear program? I would say to take it serious as if you will start your line right away even if you aren’t. You want to make something that you would feel comfortable putting in a store. Also get out and find people that own companies and help them in any capacity that you can. That’ll teach you a lot and build your resume. Also be unique and authentic to a vision you have, there are a lot of kids wanting to do the same thing. Find your niche and you will benefit greatly.
What is your biggest goal right now? I have a few. I am lucky enough to have my hands in a few different companies and I want to help grow those in any way I can. I have helped a new Menswear label called Brownstone for the past three years and we recently got our first big buyer we are very proud of. So to make that as big as it can get and also to achieve great things at OBEY because the brand is in a very unique place and a lot of good changes are in the works over there and I’m excited to be apart of that.
Anything else you’d like to share? I would say to any student or person who wants to do these things I’m able to do, I would say to just get out and meet people who can help you, and in return help them. While simultaneously applying skills you’re learning in school to jobs/internships and then apply skills you learn in the field to school. You’ll find everything to flow nicely and learn a lot more along the way.
Categories: Apparel Industry Management Menswear Los Angeles Campus Alumni
