Get to know: Sarah Humphries
What is your hometown? Where have you lived?
Tampa, Fla. for my entire life. London, England for my first year of college. SCAD Hong Kong for a summer. And New York for several summers.
What is your professional experience?
I interned at Alexander Wang in New York City last summer and it was an experience that deeply affected my perspective as a designer. I worked for the T by Alexander Wang department. T by Alexander Wang is a diffusion line that still retails to a luxurious market. The T line provides effortlessly chic workwear and casual wear to the Alexander Wang customer and also to customers not willing or wanting to wear the more expensive and lavish ready-to-wear runway collection. The beauty of T by Alexander Wang is in the small details and beautiful finishings of the clothes. Focusing immensely on quality certainly changed the way I look at clothes. Even a very simple piece of clothing can be luxurious in its beautiful, thoughtful crafting. Alexander Wang taught me so much about the business practices of a respected fashion company and also I admired the casual atmosphere of the work place. It was a phenomenal summer internship experience.
When did you decide to pursue a career in fashion?
I always had an interest in fashion design. I remember designing clothes when I was a little girl but I think I was always a little frightened to actually think of the possibility of a design career. I began collecting vintage clothes in high school and started learning about fashion history by researching certain types of garments that I would find. I loved elegant dresses from the 30s and 40s, mod dresses from the 60s, and boho clothing from the 70s. I did pre-college programs at both Pratt and RISD before even considering art school. After I spent my first year of college abroad, I decided I was ready to take the chance and pursue fashion design. I transferred to SCAD and never looked back.
What inspires you creatively? Professionally?
Other artists inspire me greatly. I love media arts and illustration. History, romance, stories, and architecture are also very inspiring themes that I reference often in my work. I also frequently find myself researching ancient mythology, legends, and folklore when I’m wanting to be inspired conceptually. Even things as simple as materials themselves can be so inspiring. Holding a material and imagining the possibilities for it is one of the best ways for me to explore and create.
What are some of the most pressing issues facing today’s fashion designers? Models? Accessory designers?
I think staying relevant is and has always been an issue for designers. The question designers always have to answer is “What’s next?” I also think ethical manufacturing and sustainability are important issues for the industry. Influential designers to need to be considering their global impact in the way their products are produced.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Five years from now I hope to be designing for a high-end label whose aesthetic allows me the creative freedom to design innovatively. I want to learn the business and get experience learning from an established company. However, I don’t really see myself working for a huge corporation, I feel like a mid-size design house allows for more creativity and a more intimate work environment. That said, I don’t have a set, specific plan for the future. I want to achieve certain things by certain times in my life, but I understand that that no path is ever straight or clear. I’m ready for the unexpected and recognize that serendipity plays a great deal in wherever we end up.
Do you have any advice for future SCAD fashion designers or those who are preparing to enter the industry?
My best advice for future SCAD designers would be putting as much love into your collection as possible. I believe that if you love your work, it shows. Also, believe in yourself but simultaneously accepting doubt and limitations. Not everything is going to be perfect. Senior collection has been the most difficult creative achievement of my entire SCAD career. There have definitely been times during all of the sleepless nights when I asked myself whether this is even what I want to be doing with my life or whether this was worth all of the struggle. The answer has always been a resounding “Yes,” but it’s still okay to ask the question.
How would you categorize your aesthetic?
I would categorize my aesthetic as dramatic, modern, and enchanting. My customer is a powerful woman. She isn’t afraid to make a statement.
Who would be your dream designer to work alongside?
Jean Paul Gaultier has been one of my favorite designers throughout my lifetime. I feel like his garments have such a beautiful artistry to them. Working with him would be unfathomable. I would also adore working with Haider Ackermann. I feel like he has such a fresh and intriguing perspective on fashion. I feel like some of the most exciting fashion is coming from Belgium and I would love to experience that viewpoint first hand.
When you think about the future of fashion, what do you see?
When I think about the future of fashion, I see an exciting growth of distinctive creations. I feel like society is embracing and celebrating inventive design and promoting new talent. I think that technology will play a huge role in how our garments are produced and how products will be re-imagined. I think the future of fashion is in technology and how creative individuals use it.
