Alumni

Zabreena Flores' Moulin Rouge DEBUT Collection Inspired by the Victorian Era and Cyberpunk

Advanced Study Theatre Costume Design Student Zabreena Flores is currently creating Moulin Rouge costumes for the characters Satine, La Chocolat, Audrey, and a can-can dancer for FIDM’s Annual DEBUT Runway Show event live-streaming on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 5:00 PM PDT. We recently chatted with Zabreena, who attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California prior to earning an A.A. in Fashion Design from FIDM, to learn more about her designs, inspiration, and how FIDM is getting her closer to her career goals.

When did you develop an interest in design? I have always had an interest in art and design. When I was nine years old, the very first thing I sewed was an upholstery for a 1937 Ford Coupe and the rest is history.

How did you first hear about FIDM? I went to FIDM’s Open House in 2016. I fell in love with the school right away and right after the event ended, I made sure to speak with an Admissions Advisor to guide me through my next steps in becoming a student at FIDM.

Tell us about your Moulin Rouge theatre costume designs: My designs for Moulin Rouge were inspired by nature and the romanticism of the Victorian Era with a futuristic twist in a cyberpunk realm. Each costume has its own unique structural element. The characters I am designing for are Satine, La Chocolat, Audrey, and a can-can dancer. Considering Satine is one of the main characters of this show I knew her costume had to be showstopping.

What silhouettes and fabrics can we expect to see? The main elements I worked with for Satine’s costume were origami pleating with organza, corset lacing for princess seams, a huge iridescent vinyl petal collar, and rhinestones. The color palette of this look revolves around opal tones, baby pink, lavender, sky blue, turquoise, iridescent silver, and champagne. Satine’s full look includes a beautiful tear-away feature of a completely hand-sewn robe, created from 27 yards of champagne pleated organza. The inspiration for this robe comes from the different shapes in sound waves and electric currents while also having an effortless feel like a moving fish fin. I wanted the viewer's eyes to get lost in the waves when they take a first look, so each person can build an illusion in their mind of what they view.

What is your unique design vision? My design vision revolves around the seen and unseen. I like to test and push my creative boundaries every time I create something new. Each one of my pieces in this show has a different structural feature that enhances the human body.

How do you hope people will feel when they see your designs? I want people to let their creative minds flourish while watching the show. I hope some feel inspired when they see my designs, to follow their dreams and never stop creating.

What inspires you as a creative and as a designer? History and nature definitely inspire me. History because of how far we have come throughout time in civilization and clothing. Nature inspires because of the process it takes to grow a garden; the process is much similar to my creative process. I plant an idea in my mind, I water my mind with research and inspiration, although you have to wait a while for the flower to bloom. The journey along the way builds you and the outcome is beautiful and empowering.

What is a lesson you’ve learned in this advanced program? Taking this course through a pandemic really pushed me to challenge my skills as a student and a designer. A lesson I live by is to never limit your abilities — there is always room for improvement.

How is FIDM helping you get closer to your career goals? Having instructors who work in the industry is a huge help; they inspire me to keep thriving and setting goals for myself and who I am as a designer. FIDM also offers a ton of helpful advice for jobs and internships in the Career Center.