A Year with a Flash
九游娱乐官网 Today will be following a group of Golden Flashes for the 2023-24 academic year chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group includes students, faculty and administrators who are at different places on their 九游娱乐官网 journeys.
When she first began the fashion design program at 九游娱乐官网, Parma Heights, Ohio, native Kaleigh McGreal said that she didn鈥檛 even know how to operate a sewing machine. 鈥淚 did not know how to turn it on,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know to put the bobbin in. I was completely overwhelmed because everyone around me had been sewing for years and I was just starting. But it was cool. I kind of liked being a little guinea pig and figuring it out because I was able to get advice from other students and the teachers were super helpful, so it ended up really working out.鈥�
鈥淩eally working out鈥� is an understatement in McGreal鈥檚 case. Flash forward a few years and the student who struggled to learn how to master a sewing machine is now creating full garments from scratch, from the pattern to the finished product, and has worked side-by-side with world-famous fashion designers.
Study Abroad, Study Away and Three Internships
McGreal鈥檚 九游娱乐官网 education-abroad experience was in Florence, Italy. 鈥淭he professors are amazing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat was really interesting to have studio classes with the Italian professors. They have a different way of doing things. They have techniques that we probably wouldn鈥檛 learn elsewhere. And, of course, just seeing the culture and the different fashion 鈥� it was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. One of the reasons I chose 九游娱乐官网 was because of the study-away and study-abroad opportunities.鈥滱fter Florence, McGreal chose to spend the spring semester of her junior year at 九游娱乐官网 New York Fashion. She chose New York for the internship opportunities and because she felt that New York City was the heart of fashion in the United States. While in New York, McGreal completed three internships. The first was with a women鈥檚 luxury wear brand in which she learned firsthand about the process of product development 鈥� from design to pattern making to taking samples to factories and assembly of the finished product.The second internship gave her experience with fashion tech and the third internship was with designer Victor de Souza.
McGreal and de Souza at the showing of his inaugural bridal collection. McGreal assisted with the creation of the designs and the staging of the show. Photos courtesy of 九游娱乐官网 New York City Fashion.
Born in Argentina, de Souza is based in New York City. His 鈥淐onscious Couture鈥� designs are created to reflect a lifestyle committed to beauty and integrity as well as sustainable, conscientious production. McGreal鈥檚 work with de Souza stared with hand sewing and assisting with shows. Then, he introduced her to pattern making and she did some machine sewing.
鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 got to see everything. I got to see it from design to the runway. I was backstage at the shows, and I was helping with the pieces. I got to assist with the pattern and then assist with the sewing and then assist with the fittings. It was the whole process.鈥�
鈥淥ne of the dresses that walked the runway, I made the pattern, I sewed the dress and then she wore it, and I was like 鈥極h, my God,鈥欌€� said McGreal.
One-of-a-kind Experiences
McGreal feels that the study-away and education-abroad experiences are experiences that she would not have had anywhere else. She said that both in Florence and New York, the professors and staff were always there to support her and that she felt 鈥渞ight at home.鈥�
鈥淗onestly, Kent is how I met Victor de Souza. I would never have met Victor without 九游娱乐官网,鈥� said McGreal. 鈥淗e is amazing, and I still keep in touch with him now and I hope to see him when I go back to New York after graduation.鈥�
After Graduation
McGreal鈥檚 excitement grows as she gets closer to her graduation date. She feels that she will return to New York City for a job. 鈥淚 think I have a really good foundation,鈥� she said. I鈥檝e made some good connections. I鈥檒l definitely have some good references going out. I think I鈥檝e really been able to build what I need to get out in the actual workforce.鈥�
Her 鈥渄ream job,鈥� she said would be to one day work with designer Stella McCartney in London. 鈥淚 just love her work,鈥� said McGreal. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 also really passionate about sustainability which is one of her big things. So, it would be cool to learn from her for sure.鈥�
Working as a technical designer appeals to McGreal because she finds the challenge of turning creative designs into wearable clothing fascinating. 鈥淚t鈥檚 cool when you get such a crazy piece, and you have to have to figure out how to make it. You take the crazy and make it something you can actually wear,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the other cool part. You can take something really avant-garde, figure out how to make it technical and then you can make it a real thing.鈥�
