Interview with Jillian Lenae

Jillian Lenae is a fashion designer and student based in Texas, United States whose work has recently led to her involvement in the next upcoming New York Fashion Week at the mere age of 19. Set to elevate her career by officially introducing her name into the fashion industry, she chats to us about her past, her plans, and where she’s at with fashion design currently. 

Despite having always pursued a career in design, Jillian has so far taken on the roles of both designing and creating her work. My preference is definitely designing the pieces; I feel as though I have more creative freedom when it comes to deriving inspiration from various places, and it’s the most relaxed part of the process for me. While I enjoy creating and constructing my designs, the design and creative aspects will always have a special place in my heart.

Jillian has been fashion-mad since before she hit double digits, and her childhood plays a large role in her creative inspiration. I go to my childhood memories of: tea parties at home, grandmothers’ flowers, princess obsession, love for essentially all things whimsical. If either her memories or browsing Pinterest give Jillian a spark of an idea, she’ll begin sketching out different concepts. They usually will start as very Avant-Garde designs then become a more wearable and realistic concept for me. Moving into creating the piece, I’ll begin to source fabrics that suit the project’s specific needs. Thrifting for materials is such a fun way to go about this step of the process.

It’s no secret that the fashion industry generally has negative environmental impacts, however the future for sustainable fashion is optimistic, beginning with education in schools and colleges. Concerning sustainability and ethics within the industry, my classes have skimmed these subjects’ surface, and I am optimistic we will get to learn in greater depth soon, she says, and plans on implementing sustainable practices as she grows and develops her brand: Lillian Jenae Designs. Thrifting for materials is just one example of how she is already environmentally friendly in practice, by reducing waste with the perk of stumbling across unique items. Sustainability and ethical production practices are crucial to how I plan on operating things as I move forward. I intend to utilize second-hand materials where possible, responsibly source fabrics, and discard and reuse scraps properly. As I search for a potential manufacturer, an ethical work environment and livable wages are at the top of my priorities.

Thankfully, social media has been a prominent tool for me to learn about these principles and how I can apply them to my life and business practices. As well as a place to seek awareness and education, Jillian finds social media a vital tool to share and promote her work. With over 4k followers on Instagram and Tiktok combined, she allows her viewers to see the journey of what goes on behind starting [her] career and her movement into the fashion industry. She keeps it real, posting clips of her thrifting for materials and items, behind-the-scenes of her budget photoshoots, and sharing her favourite sewing accessories. I'm still learning what goes over best on different platforms, but I am optimistic about where it will go.

Jillian has an exciting big project coming up, having been invited to design a collection for New York Fashion Week. I will be presenting an 8-look collection for the SS23 season (that was postponed to next September due to covid-19). This involves designing, producing, and constructing each look. Considering my limited budget, I am also taking the photos, running my website, and launching my line. As currently a college student studying Apparel Design and Manufacturing at Texas Tech University alongside all this, Jillian has a lot on her plate. This collection is very different from how I have approached things previously. I didn't have too much to think about everything being cohesive with past projects as each piece would stand alone. With this collection, each piece has to build off of another element and needs to be carried throughout the line.

For this collection, Jillian departs from her whimsical memories and takes some practical inspiration from her own wardrobe. I love designing matching sets and versatile pieces, both of which you will see in this  collection. This does translate into my style, in that I love having pieces that I can wear, going out, in a casual setting, or even as a statement piece.

Jillian's experience studying fashion at college has prepared her to forge a career in the fashion industry. I’ve realized what aspects of the industry I do and do not like and what things I hope to change. I love the new skills that I have acquired during my time at school, and I am excited to see where they will take me. The future is bright for Jillian, who whilst only at the very beginning of her career, has some valuable reflections towards getting the most out of life. If you have a goal, you have to start working towards it. Even if it’s not what you may believe to be a significant step, every step counts. I would not be where I am in my career or have the opportunities I currently have if I did not start. She shares with us a personal mantra, and departs with some strong words of advice: Create more pieces, try more ambitious projects, push your design aesthetic. You can never know what your life will be unless you start.

Follow Jillian Lenae on Instagram: @lillianjenaedesigns & @jillian_lenae

Photo accreditation

Makeup: Ember Brockman 

Styling/ Photography: Jillian Lenae 

Models:  

Olivia O’Connell 

Katie Kowalik 

Reina Angélica 

Madison Majors 

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