Get to know: Lindsay Di Rito
What is your hometown? Where have you lived?
My hometown is Atlanta, Ga. I was born in New Jersey, and since have lived in Maryland, Nebraska, Atlanta, France, Italy, Florida, back to Atlanta and now in Savannah.
How much professional experience do you have in fashion or anything else related?
I have spent my summers in New York City, interning in fashion companies such as VPL and Derek Lam’s 10 Crosby Line. While in school, I also started my own line of baby clothes, Softly Handmade, available on Etsy.
When did you decide to pursue a career in fashion?
I actually started off my college career at Georgia Institute of Technology and I was vacillating between architecture and being an biomedical engineer. However, I was not happy and eventually decided to take the risk and follow my heart which took me to SCAD and fashion. It is the best decision of my life and I can honestly say I have not looked back since.
What inspires you creatively? Professionally?
Being around other creative people is inspiring to me, and I love the idea that we are all working together for an end result. The same goes with what inspires me professionally — I love to be around creative people in creative environment. When I was interning at Derek Lam, I was excited everyday to get out of bed and go to work and be surrounded by creative people, exciting fabrics, and new designs.
What are some of the most pressing issues facing today’s fashion designers? Models? Accessory designers?
I think designing to a price point is a very difficult task in today’s design world. What most people do not realize is that in order for you to walk into a store and buy a shirt for $20, the designers were only able to spend maybe $4 of that on the fabric and construction. Especially with the economy being in a difficult place, it makes the job of a designer all that more difficult as shoppers are looking for a deal.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I would love to be on the creative design team of a well known luxury design company.
Do you have any advice for future SCAD fashion designers or those who are preparing to enter the industry?
I think the biggest piece of advice I have to give is not to be afraid to go after what you really want and do not be afraid to follow your dreams. I was very intimidated by the idea of coming to art school as I did not know how I would stack up to the talent here, but what I have found is that when your goals are in line with your passion, and you are really able to dedicate your whole heart and soul into your work, you can expect the amazing.
How would you categorize your aesthetic?
I am a self-described modern minimalist. My work references my background in architecture in structure and seam lines. I love oversized, cocoon silhouettes in neutrals — especially white, gray and black with an occasional punch of color. I love playing with textures and stiff fabrics.
Who would be your dream designer to work alongside?
Jil Sander, hands down. There is just something breath-taking to me about a designer that can create such beautiful pieces so effortlessly in such exquisite fabrics.
When you think about the future of fashion, what do you see?
Certainly I think activewear will have a huge impact on the future of fashion as it is such a large, growing force in the apparel market. People are not interested in dressing in uncomfortable clothes anymore and I have seen a huge rise in the runway of silhouettes that fall away from the body — and are not tight. I would definitely attribute that to the rise of activewear.
