Donny

I am a graduate student in microbial sciences and sewing is my favorite hobby. Initially, I only sewed to alter ready-to-wear clothes but quickly realized that making my own clothes was 1) cheaper and 2) fun. My taste for clothing cuts, silhouettes, and fits feels like it is always changing – especially as I learn from and interact with the sewing community. Currently, I am inspired by the idea of simply wrapping myself in yards of fabric and allowing it to drape around me. As if I were simply wrapped in a blanket. So far, this fantasy has materialized as billowing coats and voluminous pants. I’m sure this feeling will eventually pass as my tastes change, but for now I enjoy it!

What influence does music have in your life as a creative?:

I normally don’t listen to music when I machine sew. The noises from my machine often ruin the experience of music for me. Many of my recent pieces, however, require parts that are hand sewn, which is when I indulge in music. I typically like pop music. I like the escape that endlessly joyful music gives me. It helps me zone out while I engage in repetitive stitching. I’m not sure if music has directly inspired specific garments nor have I drawn style inspiration from musical artists (yet), but a good chunk of my personal style is inspired by a nebulous word cloud of “fun,” “silly,” and “big” – which I think applies to my music taste as well.

Tell us about your playlist:

Fun, flirty, joyous, and sometimes sassy songs are my jam.