Art Invasionz
This case study explores the innovative process involved in developing an upcycled thrifted collection and organizing an event for its subsequent showcase. Art Invasionz Inc. is a dynamic non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the arts and promoting mental health. They sought project management for the creation of a clothing collection to be featured at LA Fashion Week as well as presented at an upcoming event in Minnesota. The distinctive collection made its debut at Los Angeles Asian Fashion Week, standing as a testament to the influential intersection of creativity, sustainability, and cross-cultural inspiration. As the Creative Director and Co-Designer, this project allowed me to bridge the realms of art, fashion, and philanthropy. I was able to use my previous experience styling and upcycling to create one of a kind pieces from preexisting garments as well as Project Manage a successful event. This also marked my inaugural endeavor in producing an entire collection through design and sewing—an invaluable growth opportunity that harmonized a culmination of skills I had cultivated over the years.
The Vision and Inspiration: The brand approached me with a theme for this project that was rooted in a vision of the destruction and inspiration that comes from nature. Drawing references from couture and ready-to-wear collections worldwide, as well as the emotive art style of the non-profit organization, I meticulously curated a mood board. This served as the creative compass for our collection ,that we then showcased at a fashion show in Los Angeles with 6 other designers.
Styling Vision and Material Sourcing: The mood board isn’t just a visual collage; it served as a blueprint for the collection's aesthetic as well as a reference point for the future events set design. Detailed notes were crafted, outlining the envisioned styling and material sources. These notes serve as the foundation for a sustainable and globally-inspired approach to fashion design. And was a road map as the collection came to life.
These images showcase select examples of the looks I created. While I didn't personally craft and style every ensemble to accommodate the brand owner's input, my overarching vision resonated throughout the entire collection. This coherence was apparent, contributing to a unified and cohesive presentation.
The above video is the promotional material we used on social media using content from our fashion show in Los Angeles to promote the subsequent event in Minnesota.
The first half of the event in Minnesota featured the students of Art Invasionz as models and stylists. Using T-shirts from the previous collection each student was encouraged to choose a T-shirt featuring a piece of art and style a look that inspired them. We spent months mentoring them and fostering creativity. We used content from our workshops with the students to make the above video and used it as additional promotional material for social media.
The above are examples of content shared to social media following the event.
Credits
Videography - Virgilio Cerda
Photography - Vivian Zhang @viveportraits IG
Represented Brands
Art Invasionz inc - Worthington, MN