Emma Rees

Hi! My name is Emma and I am a senior studying apparel design at Auburn University with a minor in business. I am passionate about designing looks that are timeless but unique. I value quality and design above all and I hope that reflects in my work. 

 

Some of my favorite designers are Sandy Liang, Thom Browne, Schiaparelli, and Vera Wang. 

 

I have always loved fashion and personas you can create with different outfits. I began sewing by up-cycling and doing thrift flips on my mom's old sewing machine. She taught me the basics but I learned everything from YouTube videos. I continued sewing as a hobby but never thought I could pursue it professionally. However, things changed for me my freshman year of college. I was attending a school in Chicago as a journalism major but I didn't see myself being satisfied in the future. So, I started taking sewing classes and learned pattern making techniques and sewing skills. Then, I decided to take fashion design seriously. Now, I am a few credits away from receiving my Bachelor’s of Science in Apparel Design and Production Management. 

 

Through my time at Auburn, I have taken classes and I am polishing my skills in:

- Fashion illustration 
- Industrial sewing techniques 
- Computer aided design in Adobe Creative Suite and Optitex
- Digital textile design
- Pattern drafting, manipulation, and alterations
- Technical design and spec packs

- Personal branding

 

This is not an extensive list and I am always interested in learning new skills and becoming more versatile designer. 

 

My dream is make a positive impact on sustainability in the apparel industry while staying true to my aesthetic and design goals!

 

I am against using AI at all but especially so in design. However, I acknowledge that it is an aspect of the industry that is only going to grow and become more integrated. I choose to use it for things like creating mockups or product samples of original designs. I will never use it as a replacement for creativity or to do something that I am capable of doing myself. My goal is to implement it as a tool, understanding its consequences ethically. Anytime I use AI, I will make sure to cite it and use it responsibly. 

 

I am currently seeking internship opportunities focused on technical design, apparel design, and textile design.