Opportunity Knocks February 18, 2010
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Careers, Industry News, Inspiration, Trends , trackback
Designers, I beg of you . . . someone, please help our US Figure Skaters!
Never in my life have I seen such fashion disasters in dire need of your help! Up until the early nineties, figure skating fashion was about as bad as it is today. Then, in 1992, stepped in a former competitive figure skater by the name of Vera Wang who decided to help out a group of athletes in dire need of wardrobe assistance.
When Vera Wang began designing Nancy Kerrigan’s costumes, it created a mini fashion revolution! While other skaters were wearing over-the-top flamboyant designs, Vera Wang sent Ms. Kerrigan out in sleek, simple, and beautiful creations and, in the process, received a ton of press:
Then . . . (1992)
Now . . . (2010)
Since the 90′s something has happened and our poor ice skaters are following in the footsteps of guys like Johnny Weir. It’s time for a new designer to step in and make a difference. The profits could follow. As Vera Wang says, ”The viewership is so enormous and so many people are judging figure skating also from a fashion point-of-view . . . They’re seen as models in a strange way and not only as athletes.”
Seriously, though, the story here isn’t really about designing competitive figure skating costumes as much as it is seeing an opportunity and rising to the occasion as Vera Wang did back in 1992. She saw a fashion need in an area that she knew and loved, decided to fill the void and, in the process, became a household name.
So, if you spent your high-school summers working at a car wash and would love to design a cute retro uniform, or really like playing soccer but felt so unattractive in those long short, or loved being in the marching band but hated those silly hats – maybe there is an opportunity there for you to shine and combine the things that you love! You never know where it might lead!
- Tiffany Teague
Comments
BRILLIANT! =)