Get to know: Kaitlyn Machos
What is your hometown? Where else have you lived?
I was born in Jacksonville, Fla. and then at the age of twelve I moved with my family to Lexington, S.C.
Do you have any professional experience? Perhaps an internship?
Worked under a seamstress at First Impression- Prom and bridal
Donna Degnan- Internship
Haberdashery Savannah, Ga.- Internship
Express Campaign, Savannah Ga.- Production and Styling
NYFW-dresser
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade- Alterations and Production
When did you decide to pursue a career in fashion?
I was creating dresses for myself at the age of seven, and continued to sew and to experiment. During high school I took classes in both interior design and fashion design. I really found my interest to be in fashion design when I took a sewing and construction class my senior year and I made a dress of recycled materials. That dress was the deciding factor that I was going to go to SCAD for fashion.
What inspires you creatively? Professionally?
I’m inspired by stories and one’s journey through life. I like to form my concepts from the unusual, rather than the mundane. Professionally, I created my branding for Exposed: my senior thesis to tell the story of a car crashing.
What are some of the most pressing issues facing today’s fashion designers? Models? Accessory designers?
A lot of fashion designers are struggling to stay true to their aesthetic and what is right for their brand. For models, it goes back and forth between what is healthy and what isn’t.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I see myself with a secure job designing and in the process of producing my own line.
Do you have any advice for future SCAD fashion designers or for those who are preparing to enter the industry?
Stay true to yourself, find your inspiration in something that you find impactful to you because it may be the last time that you design a complete collection by yourself. Don’t be stubborn like I was and let the fabric speak for itself. Most importantly have fun.
How would you categorize your aesthetic?
Feminine, clean lines, structured.
Who would be your dream designer to work with?
Elie Saab
When you think about the future of fashion, what do you see?
I see a huge difference in the use of fabrics due to the escalation of technology and the surface manipulation of fabrics.
