Challenging the Status Quo - Jessica K

q: How has studying Fashion Design at the Instituto Marangoni aided you in establishing your own brand? a: I initially started my studies with a degree in Business Hotel Management. However, I always had a deep passion for art and fashion design. Instituto Marangoni enabled me to enhance and own my creative skills and taught me all about collection planning and patternmaking. Moreover, the school ensured that we were prepared to enter the working life through mentoring and coaching that focused on the deep analysis of each student and the individual strengths we could bring to the table. We were often encouraged to take part in industry networking events and in-house recruitment days – both essential to weave a web of long-lasting connections in the industry. All those mentioned above aided me in building a steady base for my brand. q: What has been your biggest inspiration when it comes to designing? a: I have always been inspired by the things that surround me. Whether it’s a vintage piece of jewellery from my grandmother’s closet, or timeless art pieces created by an unknown artist. I am a contemporary art lover and am ingrained in the everchanging world of trends – both on the fashion and design scenes. My travels also play a role in directing moods and feels for my collections. What inspires me the most however, are the women surrounding me. The way they live and the way they want to portray themselves through their clothes. And that’s where my role comes in! q: Name 3 of your biggest influencers in the Fashion industry and why? a: The first one would be Leandra Medine, because she is one of the pioneers of real blogging. I love the way she styles outfits through mix-and-matching. She is also humble and authentic. Second would be Giovana Bataglia, for her unique sense of style and the way she dresses up for social events. Last but not least, Anna Wintour. It’s cliché, yes, but she remains amongst the few women to reach this level of success and still be gracious and mysterious. Even though her style is always consistent and expected, she never fails to impress me. q: What do you want people to feel like when they’re wearing Jessica K? a: Powerful. Confident. One of a kind. q: Your signature is mixing opposites together, like masculine and feminine, lace with sporty-chic, what is your purpose for doing so? a: Honestly, I think it kind of reflects who I am as I person; a duality of traits that marry well together. q: Choosing from your current collection, what would be your ideal outfit from head to toe? a: A nice tailored colourful monochromatic suit with exaggerated earrings for a night out. An oversized white jersey short sleeves dress with a side slit worn with flats for a casual day. q: What has it been like working with us Curated Crowd? a: We’ve had a very positive experience so far! The team is very professional and trustworthy. They made us feel confident in joining the platform. London is a big step for me and I am grateful for the chance to join this community which allowed me to introduce my designs to a new crowd. q: Are you working on a new collection at the moment? a: We are always working on something and juggling between collections! We are currently producing the new Fall Winter styles and preparing our next SS20 samples for Paris. Stay tuned!