Meet the artist behind the work

Kayla: You’ve talked about the constant “what-if’s” of responsible design. How do you grapple with this uncertainty?

Madelyn: I know that going into such a creative industry means that I have to find ways to be innovative and solve problems. I also understand that I will not be able to solve every problem. That includes everything we do that harms the earth with what we create. 

The one and only true answer to solve this within all industries is to stop all creation and production. But as humans we can’t help but create. And I will always have the desire to create and share my story and thoughts with the world. 

Knowing this helps me realize that not everything is up to me. I can and will do my part in trying to be less harmful, which is all any of us can do, but I can’t fix everything and that is okay.  

Sustainable design is clearly one of your passions. What is one thing you wish were more transparent about sustainability in the fashion industry today?

I, of course, have a lot to learn about this. But I do know that some companies tack the word “sustainable” on their website without giving specific and clear details of their sustainable practices, knowing that this generation likes to hear that word and trusts the website. Transparency would help to push the industry toward meaningful progress in sustainability. 

I also want people to understand that something a brand is selling might sound sustainable because the item is made of organic cotton, for example, but in reality a fiber like organic cotton causes a lot of problems just as many other fibers do. Too many people get excited about certain fibers because they seem better than polyester, but there is so much more to making fabrics that most people don’t understand. And these many processes can cause just as much harm in different ways. My hope is that people will continue to research and hold companies accountable for calling themselves a “sustainable” brand. 

Tell us about your senior thesis collection — what are your inspirations and what do you hope to accomplish with this project?

My inspiration came from all the important people in my life. Focusing on the women who have encouraged me over the years, I designed this collection for them. This collection is intended for the women who want to showcase their mature femininity while being comfortable, functional, and earth conscious by using artistic, one-of-a-kind prints inspired by Japanese Artist Yoshitaka Amano, updating classic silhouettes, and using all remaining scraps to make unique hand woven accessories. 

I hope this collection finds those women who have asked me to make clothes for them, because they deserve beautiful clothing that they feel proud to wear in more ways than one. 

Tell us about your experience with the Philadelphia Circular Design Competition. What are other initiatives that make you hopeful for the future of fashion? What changes do you hope to see in the next five years?

I had a great experience with the competition. I saw an announcement online for it and decided to sign up. After a few weeks I was told that I would be participating in the competition and my mind ran wild with ideas. I was very excited to be one of many young designers participating in something that had fashion and the wellbeing of our earth at heart. I certainly did my best to create with minimal waste. I used only what I was given, down to the zipper from another dress. I understand that not every designer will share my beliefs on being earth conscious. But I hope they find a good reason to design. We are at a point where we can’t create for creation’s sake. We need to find specific problems that are really causing distress and find ways to solve, or at least minimize, them.

I see a lot of my classmates for example designing in new ways to be earth conscious, rather than simply using natural fibers, which has many drawbacks. Seeing what some of my peers are choosing to do for their senior collection makes me very happy for the fashion world we are entering. I just hope that more people find their own ways to save the world from what we have done to it. I am excited about the potential for new, truly sustainable, earth conscious materials and processes and the opportunity to incorporate them into my designs.

What legacy do you hope to have on design?

First of all, I hope to make the important people in my life proud of what I do and what I hope to accomplish. As I go into the fashion industry, I hope to create things that make people feel proud to wear them. A customer should feel excited about what they pull out of the closet and what they pair it with. They should also feel excited to know that the items in their closet are earth friendly. My goal is to be a part of the movement the industry is taking in being eco friendly, sustainable, and earth conscious. Because after centuries of making poor design process decisions it is time we think of more than just a beautiful dress, instead I want to find a reason to make it.

What’s your favorite song to listen to when you work/design?

This is an interesting and not so simple question. Because what I listen to is entirely dependent on my mood that day. Some days I enjoy working in complete silence to help stay focused and completely impressed in my process.  Some days I feel the need to work as quickly and effectively as possible, in that case I will listen to people like The HU, Mushroomhead, or Primus.  Other days I want to work more delicately and give a more lighthearted vibe to my designs, so I will listen to people like Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Selena Gomez, or Etta James. Unfortunately, I can’t pick a favorite song. It is clear that picking a favorite artist, or even music style is difficult for me. But I love so many different types of music and I think that plays into what and how I design.