Editor's note: For two weeks, Fashionably Cleveland is paying homage to up-and-coming local designers. Each story subject is a graduating senior at Kent State University, and each story is written by another KSU student. Keep an eye out for these emerging fashion designers - you'll surely be hearing more about them in the future.
Fashion design technical major Rebecca Del Pizzo won't tell you that her favorite part of her major is designing. As the name of her major indicates, she looks more toward the construction of pieces rather than the designing process.
Her senior collection took inspiration from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, with the creation of outfits a magical fairy might wear in a fairy tale. Del Pizzo said similar to many other fashion students, the senior collection is something she looked forward to during her college career.
Where is your hometown? Why did you choose Kent State?
I'm from Olmsted Falls, Ohio. I chose Kent State because it has one of the best fashion schools in the country, it was the least expensive of the other schools and close enough to home.
What does fashion and fashion designing mean to you, or what does it stand for personally?
I’m not really the typical fashion person. I am more interested in the actual construction and sewing aspect of designing a garment.
What has the Senior Fashion Design Series meant to you? How much work was put into your pieces?
Our senior collections are something we - or at least I - have been thinking about since I started in the fashion school four years ago. It’s the big conclusion to my fashion school experience.
As far as how much work was done and time put into it, it is unbelievable. There were many all-nighters, and most of my life was spent in the studio. It basically ruled my life for four months. If I wasn’t actually working on it, it was constantly running in my head. The stress factor was crazy. We had about one and a half hours on each outfit, and then we did corrections. The let down was having to put so much work and effort into it and then it not being accepted into the show, but that’s life, I guess.
Where or who does your design inspiration come from? How has this impacted your design career/years?
I don’t have a specific place where my inspiration comes from because, for the most part, the actual designing process is not my forte. I would much rather be doing the sewing. But if I would have to answer, my inspiration would come from observing the clothes around me. I am very good at understanding what shapes and lines look good on people. If I am at a store and see a style line I like, I unconsciously file it away as something I would like to use in one of my designs.
What would you say your design aesthetic is? Why?
I like to make figure-hugging, body-flattering pieces. I think a woman's figure is something to be shown off and admired.
Your feelings on your designs and work?
I like every piece that I have made throughout the past four years, although depending on the amount of time and issues that arise, you tend to have a little hate for each piece. But the end result is usually something I am happy with.
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment throughout college?
Finally being able to come up with a concept and design a collection to go with it. I am definitely not as gifted at designing a collection as I am at actually making it. I am more comfortable with the technical side of things. But I have finally started to get my brain to at least understand the way to design.
Do you have plans after graduation?
Hopefully finding a job in technical design, preferably in Ohio, to start off with anyway.
What's something interesting you can tell people about yourself?
I have a brother who is 15 years older than me, and he is probably my best friend. We talk every day on the phone or over the Internet, and I usually see him at least once a weekend, sometimes more.
What was your most memorable moment from your years at Kent State? Why?
My most memorable moment would probably have to be my first two years when I worked at Pete’s Arena in the student center. I made some really good friends and had a lot of fun most of the time.
