Leah Michelle Smith: Fashion showcase

Leah Smith is a fourth-year fashion design major from Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Crosby Ignasher.

Written by Charlytte Morrone

Talk about your design process from inception to completion.

It all started in my hometown. Last summer when I went back home, I was inspired by the graffiti in Michigan. I wanted to evoke this idea that Michigan is such a depressed community and kids are expressing themselves and voicing their opinions through graffiti. I am always sketching and taking pictures and would do photo shoots with friends in these abandoned places and it all evolved into so many prints and categories. I wanted to capture the city and evoke my voice in a narrow way.

What has your SCAD experience been like?

Blood, sweat and tears and no sleep! It has been crazy and exhausting. The professors have been pushing us to stretch out of our comfort zone to the max. I am proud of my senior collection and I could not have done it without my professor and my parents.

What inspired your senior collection?

I wanted to express the youth of Detroit and show how depressed their community is. They don’t have a way to speak out, so they turn to vandalizing.

I listened to a lot of hip-hop and rap genre of music, which has been a big part of my life. The shapes and silhouettes in my senior collection are based on 90s hip-hop music, referencing the oversize clothes.

Can you describe your design aesthetic? What are you trying to accomplish?

My aesthetic is fun, playful and young. I love pattern mixing and color. My collection has a lot of graphics. I wanted to create a collection that young people would want to rock down the street—something with that urban edge.

Are you nervous about the show? How do you feel? What are you thinking?

I’m more excited than anything. It has been such an amazing, stressful, sleepless, whirlwind of an experience, so it will be nice to see everyone’s designs come to life.

How has SCAD prepared you for the future?

SCAD has prepared me in so many different ways. I think most importantly I’ve learned to work fast and smart. The time constraints here at SCAD are so quick that we have no choice but to produce quality work in a short amount of time, so time management is essential.

Any professional experience?

I interned on the sets on a few independent films back in Michigan and that opened the door for me to explore the costume design part of fashion.

When did you decide to pursue a career in fashion?

As a kid, I always had a great interest in fashion and apparel design. It never truly became a career opportunity until I came to SCAD.

What are some of the most pressing issues facing today’s fashion designers, models and accessory designers?

I think a major issue pressing the fashion industry is its strain on the environment. It is important that designers remain innovative and try to create in an eco-conscious way.

Advice for future designers?

My advice is to follow your intuition and stick with it. When you believe in yourself, everyone else will, too.

What is your next step after SCAD?

I think it is the dream of every young designer to one day have their own collection. I would love to work for Jeremy Scott or a designer along those lines.

What is one of your biggest regrets while at SCAD?

My biggest regrets would probably be not getting involved sooner. I was a transfer student, so I wish I was more outgoing and joined more clubs.