Alumni

Grad Shows Bridal Designs at Austin Fashion Week

Fashion Design Graduate Brandy Hughes had her sights set on the fashion industry as a teenager. “I always knew I always wanted to attend FIDM,” Brandy said. “I applied as early as I could and was accepted my junior year of high school — talk about some serious senioritis!” Since graduating from FIDM in 2015, Brandy has entered the bridal world as the designer and entrepreneur behind Brandy Design Studio in Austin, Texas. She recently showed a sleek and minimalist collection, designed during the pandemic, at Austin Fashion Week. We caught up with Brandy to learn more. 

How did FIDM prepare you to be a fashion designer? What FIDM was really great with was teaching me that not everybody will like your work, and that's okay. I primarily focused on lingerie and street wear in college, and definitely took a 180 and switched to bridal right after graduating. I haven't looked back in nearly six years!

Tell us about the collection you showed at Austin Fashion Week: It really had my true heart and soul in it. I saw an opportunity for a more relaxed and casual style in the bridal world due to all the small weddings. My style is very minimal, sleek, high fashion, and made with clean lines and flattering silhouettes. I primarily use crepe, silk, organza, and chiffon. I truly believe that we need to break away from the over-the-top designs we're used to seeing with weddings, and give the brides (or grooms) more of a chance for their beauty to shine through. 

What advice would you share with a current Fashion Design student? To all the current students at FIDM, my greatest advice would be to not be afraid to try something new in the design world. Maybe you need to break yourself out of a box you didn't know you were in. That, and have thick skin.

Learn more online at brandydesignstudio.com or on Instagram @brandydesignstudio.

Categories:  Fashion Design Alumni