For taking the time to view the sample of my latest portfolio. I hope that this portfolio shows you how dedicated I am to my career. I look forward to seeing where this will lead me next. I'm eager to expand my knowledge of this industry and push my own limits as a creative. Again, thank you for your consideration.
i hope her light continues to light my path for eons to come.
my memories was the road that took us there. More than that, the drive itself was also a way for me to connect with friends and family. No matter if we were deep in conversation, sharing new music, or discussing our excitement about the destination: these were all ways to deepen our connection with one another.
Inspiration began to flow as I thought of all the memories, I created along the Highway to Kailua-Kona:
“We stand in the dining room waiting for family to make their finishing touches. A large black witch moth flaps by and lands on a wall. “A relative is visiting.” my boyfriend explains. I can feel my grandmother and sister’s guidance.
“Ready!” We all move towards the door in unison. As I wait for my turn, I look up past the banana trees at the Hawaiian night sky. Crab spiders sit along side the stars. I climb in and find my place.
We pass the Aloha Theater. I adjust in my seat
to get a better view. The blur of trees and flowers clear and for a moment I can see Kailua-Kona glittering in the distance.
Our favorite music carries us down the highway. We pause for a moment as we cross the parking lot and find our place at the table.
The bill is generously covered. We share our gratitude and gather our belongings. Family talks story over a couple cigarettes before filing into their cars. We pass the Aloha theater once more, and I know we’re almost home.”
When I think about the Spirit of Aloha, it’s the sense of community and the feeling of connection that resonates with me. As a mainlander, I wondered if I had felt the Spirit of Aloha in my life. I recalled some of my fondest memories with family and friends, but by doing this I had a realization. These memories that I hold so dear, I had recreated with new friends and family in Hawaii.
Whether on the mainland or the big island, my dearest memories take place at night, under the moon’s soft glow. I smile when I look back at all the different ways that I felt connected to my loved ones. It could be a conversation over a delicious meal after a long day of work. It could be a night drive along the coast with our favorite music blasting. It could be a family gathering at a relative’s house to celebrate someone’s accomplishments or an aunt’s birthday.
No matter where these memories were formed, there was one overlooked detail that inspired this collection. The highway. No matter the destination, what connected all
CUSTOMER
The COQUI customer is an ambitious creative that seeks unique interpretations of the latest trends. Creativity flows seamlessly throughout their lives, drawing them to cultivate diverse wardrobes that feed their original and bold sense of style. How you look affects how you feel, and our customers understand this. Wearing COQUI will not only empower you, but our lasting quality promises years of unforgettable first impressions.
AGE: 25-35
EDUCATION: College graduate
CAREER: Established in their career. The more ambitious will try to pursue social media stardom in their free time.
LIFESTYLE: They are renting. They don’t invest much money into interior design. They own a car and may invest in accessorizing their vehicle. They have a lively social life. They are extroverted and enjoy going out to bars, clubs, concerts, and music festivals. Uses Tiktok and Instagram.
INFLUENCES: They listen to a variety of music including artists like; Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Grimes, and Justice. They watch minimal TV, but enjoy streaming; House of Dragons, Arcane, Marvel Franchises, and Star Wars Franchises. Their interest in Marvel and Star Wars extends to films as well. They also enjoy movies like Dune, Mad Max, Maxxxine, Deadpool and Wolverine, and the Alien Franchise. In their free time they enjoy playing video games like; Elden Ring, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Dead by Daylight, Grand Theft Auto, League of Legends, Resident Evil, and Lethal Company.
COMPETITORS: They watch brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Amiri, Supreme, Off-White, Stussy, Undercover, Aime Leon Dore, Acne Studios, Golf Wang, Kith, Palm Angels, Rhude, Billionaire Boy’s Club, Ice Cream, and Abercrombie and Fitch. These represent different price points, but their “image” resonates with my customer.
WHERE TO BUY: COQUI is available online. The company’s flagship store would be open in South Coast Plaza of Orange County. This makes our product more accessible to our customers from Los Angeles to Laguna.
Designing this portfolio took me back to my creative roots. I earned an Associate of Arts degree in Knitwear Design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. During my education, I was taught how to construct different knit and woven fabric structures. This set the basis for my creative process and my interests: I always start by designing the fabric first.
During my employment at Herve Leger, I was enamored by the jacquard artwork that our graphics team would create. Their compositions reflected the curvature of the body. The use of color played a role in my infatuation for the dresses. I had never seen artwork of this caliber until I started my career here.
Bebe changed my perspective on how artwork is used in a collection. Our Graphics Designer would illustrate a wide range of artwork. Then, our Design Director would edit them down to shape a story for the season. I took this idea of “storytelling” with me as I progressed in my career.
Shifting from Womenswear to Menswear, it felt like I had returned to my creative roots. A man’s silhouette changes at a slower rate than a woman’s. As a Senior Designer this allowed me to focus on one of my favorite parts of the design process: selecting color, conceptualizing artwork, and uniting these with texture.
These experiences shaped me as a creative and laid the groundwork for this portfolio. Inspired by the origin of the Aloha shirt, I combined this with my knowledge of young men’s trend to create an Alohawear inspired streetwear collection for pre-fall of 2025.
I look forward to seeing where this will lead me next in my career. I’m eager to expand my knowledge of this industry and push my own limits as a creative. Thank you for your consideration.