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DEBUT Student Scarlett Dyer Shares the Inspiration Behind Her 'Nightshade Fairies' Collection
Advanced Fashion Design Student Scarlett Dyer turned to the night sky, forests, and fairies for inspiration when designing her DEBUT collection. Although she wanted to be a fashion designer since her freshman year of high school, Scarlett said she arrived at FIDM three years ago without much industry knowledge. Now, she’s getting ready to share her first collection with the world. We caught up with the designer, who grew up in a small town at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, to learn more.
Tell us about your DEBUT collection: My collection, “Nightshade Fairies,” is inspired by beautiful moments that happen in the darkness of night such as the moon, stars, and the mysterious beauty of the forest. I was also inspired by fairy wings—they’re sheer and light—and many of my designs reflect this. This element inspires me to create bridal designs. Many of my streetwear designs show elements of bridal in them through fabric and silhouette. My collection is very feminine, but it’s also dark and a bit mysterious; I reflected this look in my fabric and color choices. My fabrics included satin, lace, charmeuse, tulle, and metallic gazar. For colors, I used black, white, and gold.
What was your path to FIDM? I first realized that I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was a freshman in high school. I also had an extremely strong desire to move to LA. I discovered FIDM in 2015 on my first visit to California with my mum. I visited the campus and knew immediately that it was my first choice of schools. I was blown away by the beauty of the campus, the Downtown Los Angeles area location, how welcoming the administration was, and all the amazing programs and classes offered.
How is FIDM helping you get closer to your career goals? When I first started at FIDM, I knew very little about the fashion industry and how to make a garment. Now, after three years of being at FIDM, I’ve learned so much about how the industry works and how to create beautiful garments. I think my experience at FIDM has prepared me for my dream job.
No one could’ve imagined a global pandemic would force DEBUT to be canceled. How are you supporting one another or comforting yourself during this difficult time? It’s definitely disappointing, but we’re all really looking forward to the reschedule of the show and getting our work seen on the runway. We stay in touch; I’m still in Downtown Los Angeles and staying busy by making masks and working on a new collection.
What do you hope people take away when seeing your designs? First, I want people to have an instant desire to wear my clothes. I want to project a sense of effortless ease with the way my garments fit and move – this collection is airy. At the same time, I hope that people get a bit of an edgy street vibe from my looks. My ultimate goal is to create beauty into this world.
FIDM regrets that, due to precautionary measures brought on by coronavirus, or COVID-19, we are canceling this year’s DEBUT and related events. In compliance with government recommendations, we plan to reschedule the event when it is possible to do so. We take the safety of our guests, students, staff, and faculty very seriously and thank you in advance for your understanding during this uncertain time.
Please follow us on Instagram for updates on how we are showcasing all of the student work from DEBUT.
Watch this video about Scarlett Dyer's DEBUT collection.
Categories: Advanced Fashion Design Student
