At the age of 15, Melody Hernandez took her first sewing class and fell in love with fashion. The 2013 Sachse High School graduate, who is currently enrolled at the Dallas Art Institute, was recently one of nine students selected to debut their designs at New York Fashion Week.
“I was so surprised and shocked that I was picked out of so many students who entered from across the country,” Hernandez said. “It was a dream come true and I never thought in a million years I’d have the opportunity to show my collection at New York Fashion Week. To know that many icons and legends walk down the same runway as I did was mind blowing.”
Hernandez has lived in Garland for most of her life and this was her first time to visit New York.
“I loved that people are always on the go and that there is so much to do and explore,” she said. “I love New York, but i wouldn’t trade it for Texas.”
According to a press release from the Dallas Art Institute, advanced pattern-making and haute couture classes helped Hernandez understand how to transform her ideas into designs. She begins garments by researching colors and the right patterns and determining the right silhouettes and fabric. She then creates an inspiration board and makes technical flats for each garment as she begins sewing.
Along the way, the nine students chosen have proven that they have what it takes to design and present their garments on one of fashion’s most esteemed runways. This is the eighth season that The Art Institutes has partnered with New York Fashion Week to provide a career-defining moment for its promising designers.
The nine finalists are current students and graduates of Art Institutes locations in Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Vancouver.
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