Get to Know: Carel Landry
By Adeshola Adigun
Name: Carel Landry
Major: Fashion Design
Year: Fourth-year
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
District: When did you decide you wanted to pursue a career in fashion?
Carel Landry: I decided I wanted to pursue a career in fashion when I started getting Teen Vogue magazines in high school. I would be so intrigued by all of the designer ads, particularly Marc by Marc Jacobs. I knew by seeing those that I needed to be a part of that world in any way that I could.
District: How do you categorize your design aesthetic?
Landry: I would say sophisticated activewear that is stylish and comfortable.
District: What was your inspiration behind your collection?
Landry: I was inspired by the contrast of structure and movement. This idea originated from researching dancers and how their movements affect the clothing wrapped around them and the interesting shapes it can create. Courrèges and YSL had such a forward way of thinking in the way their construction lines influenced the design. I wanted to capture that same essence and incorporate these two ideas into activewear design.
District: What was the most challenging aspect of the senior collection process?
Landry: The most challenging aspect of my process was working mainly with knits. The stretchability of the fabric varies among every different kind, and I had to learn how much to add or subtract from the patterns according to the stretch of the fabric. Unfortunately there is no textbook published that could guide me through that, so with the help of my professor and a lot of trial and error I managed to get it right.
District: What are your future plans after graduating?
Landry: After I graduate, I plan on moving to Boston where I will be an apparel design apprentice at Reebok.
District: Do you have any advice for future seniors when starting senior collection?
Landry: Do as much as you can as early as possible. And always plan for things to take longer than you think they will, just in case.
District: Who has been the most influential person when developing your collecting?
Landry: The person who influenced my collection the most would have to be Baryshnikov. Just the way he wraps his clothes around himself when he danced fascinates me. His images are what inspired a lot of my designs that include draping details.
District: Who would be your dream designer to work alongside?
Landry: My dream designer to work for would be Stella McCartney.
District: From your peers, whose collection is your favorite?
Landry: I’m most excited about the collections that used a lot of different prints, like Lindsey Smith’s and Sam Shanks’. Lindsey’s designs have always been bright and colorful like her personality, and her collection just makes me smile.
District: Where do you see fashion going in the next five years?
Landry: Hopefully athletic wear will continue to sneak its way into the fashion scene even more so than now. With big names like Stella McCartney for Adidas and Alexander McQueen for PUMA, I hope I will get to be a part of this growing movement.
