Bridal designer Stephanie Dong will be opening Stephanie D. Studio—a new fashion academy for kids and teens—in January at her studio space (on the corner of NW 12th and Marshall). Classes offered include a four-week Fashion Portfolio course, Fashion Design and Sketching, Basic Sewing for kids, and a spring break course where students can retreat for four days. The idea is that the academy gives young girls and boys a better chance to thrive and excel in the fashion industry, because it preps them before reaching college.
I spoke with the designer over coffee to learn more about what she’s up to.
- Stephanie D Couture
- The designer at work.
How did the idea for the fashion academy develop?
I’ve always wanted to work with young fashion designers in the community. I notice that many kids and teens have a natural flair for fashion, but there aren’t that many options available to them to be able take their skills to the next level (other than college-level courses), at least not here in Portland. With the success we’ve had with Stephanie D Couture, I felt the timing was right. My hope is to get more kids involved pursuing their fashion dreams, so they can learn, see, and experience the real process of becoming a fashion designer in a fun environment.
It seems Portland has a limited number of resources when it comes to fashion education. Are you hoping to expand or diversify people’s knowledge of the fashion industry here?
Yes, absolutely. As far as colleges go in Oregon, we have the Art Institute of Portland and University of Oregon’s Apparel Design program. But I’d like to encourage our students (and help them prepare their fashion portfolios) to also consider schools such as F.I.T in New York or F.I.D.M in L.A. I want to let them know that there is an endless amount of opportunity in this industry, and to reach for the sky.
Fashion has become a much more popularized and accessible industry in recent years, and it’s probably due to the fashion education being provided by certain schools. We’re seeing more schools offer business-oriented courses that allow students to thrive in the marketing and communication part of the industry. What are your thoughts?
I definitely agree that having good business acumen and skills is essential for success in any endeavor. It’s just as important for fashion students to understand who their target market is and how to reach them as it is to be able to design marketable garments. As my academy grows, I plan on incorporating more marketing-based courses that will allow my students to have a full understanding of how to make a living in the fashion industry (although it would certainly be nice to sketch pretty dresses all day long, that’s not going to pay the bills). I’m taking a dynamic approach to the content of our courses and will adjust according to what our students/parents are interested in learning. There will much more to come as interest in the academy grows.
What advice do you give young designers?
Focus on what inspires them, don’t be afraid to pursue their true passions, and most importantly, be authentic. If you manage to grab people’s attention for long enough, you will eventually be recognized and gain a loyal following. I remind them that they must be in this for the long haul, as there will be a lot of rough roads ahead. The creative side is fun, but it’s important to be able to do the hard stuff, too. Whatever you do, do not give up.