Online Fashion Illustration School News: Online Student Danny Roberts New York Fashion Week

So you went to New York Fashion Week, what did you think?
I really loved fashion week! There was a great energy in Bryant Park. I think I ended up spending a few hours in the park each day. I would sit in the park for hours just drawing. I really loved the excitement all around the place.

Favorite thing you did while in New York City?
My second night in New York, my brother, my best friend, and I were in Soho and saw the lights in the sky from the 9/11 memorial. We decided to walk from Soho to the Trade Center, so we just followed the lights and tried to navigate our way through the city. It was amazing walking through the city, and a sobering experience to see ground zero.

What’s your dream destination?
oooo. Well that's a tough one, there are about three places that would be a dream to go to. I've always wanted to go to Iceland. I think it would be an amazing place to see. Also Paris and Tokyo are in my top destinations. Everytime i think about those locations, I get really excited.

Your great escape?
hm... well, I would love to make the great escape into some of my paintings. That's usually how I come up with my ideas for paintings. I sit and think, if I could be anywhere or if I could be doing anything at that moment, what would I be doing, and then I paint it. It's my way to escape and go on any adventure I want to do.... but at the moment, my great escape is out of the smoke filled skies and the snowing ash of southern California.

What are you working on now?
I'm currently working on a few projects. I just finished up a 6 ft high by 5 ft wide and 1 ft deep
layered display. I'm getting geared up to do a window display for a new boutique in San Francisco called Eco Citizen. I'm really excited to work with Michael Carbaugh and get going on the project.

I'm also working on an illustration of John Galliano's latest collection as a test case on developing some new media techniques, working on blending photography and illustration.

What’s playing on your iPod?
"In Rainbows" the new Radiohead album has been on repeat right now on my iPod. I really can't stop listening to it, it's amazing. I've also been listening to "The Shepherd's Dog" by Iron & Wine; it is another one of my favorites right now. Also been listening to Midlake, American Music Club, Air, Martin Grech, Sigur Rós, and Kent alot lately.

Here are a few drawings from my sketchbook that I did while i was in New York.
The first one is from back stage at the show.

My brother in Bryant Park.

The next two are from my Lily Cole and Gemma Ward sketchbook that I drew out there.

Fashion School News: Blog Spotlight on Dressed by Dino Ray Ramos

One of our favorite bloggers, Dino Ray Ramos, wrote about the store opening of Eco Citizen on is blog Dressed. Check out his blog and add it to your favorites!

Fashion School News: Blog Spotlight on Glam Watch by Nerissa Pacio

From Glam Watch blog by Nerissa Pacio.

Another great review of new fav boutique Eco Citizen.

Sara Shepherd, 2005 Fashion School grad, sells organic pieces there.

Art Director Michael Carbaugh, 2002 Fashion School grad.

Fashion School News Eco Spotlight: Keep it Simple. Keep it Clean. Keep it Green.

Eco Citizen strives to offer high quality, fair trade, classic fashion design and construction to the eco-conscious consumer. Our mission is to support the planet and its people while encouraging and implementing fair trade practices, sweatshop-free merchandise, and organic fashion products. Eco Citizen promotes a lifestyle choice that goes beyond the traditional allure of fashion, by transcending the self through transparent business practices, while providing fashion-forward and classic clothing for the 21st century woman.

Located at 1488 Vallejo Street, San Francisco

Hours: 11am-7pm, Tuesday through Sunday (Closed Mondays)

EcoCitizenOnline.

Sara Shepherd, 2005 Fashion & Textile Design graduate, has her line carried here. Art Direction / Styling of models and campaign by Michael Carbaugh, 2002 Fashion & Textile Design graduate.

Fashion Journalism School News Eco Spotlight: Eco Citizen Boutique Review

CHIC ECO-BOUTIQUE
NEW HIGH-END ECO-CONSCIOUS SHOP FEATURES ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY ALUM AND LOCAL DESIGNERS

BY SYDNEY PFAFF

Deeply rooted in eco-friendly and socially responsible living, Eco Citizen is the most recent addition to the green-ism lifestyle and the new kid on Russian Hill’s popular shopping block. Owner Joslin Arsdale has created a store dedicated to promoting conscious consumerism by offering high-quality goods made with organic, fair trade, and recycled goods, as well as sweat-shop free garments and accessories.

Arsdale hosted a grand opening party on October 19 featuring local labels Del Forte, Turk & Taylor, Kelly B., and Academy of Art University alum Sara Shepherd (www.sarashepherd.com). In addition to beautiful, eco-friendly fashion and accessories, Arsdale offered organic beer, wine, and hors d’ourves to the packed house. Shepherd created a capsule collection out of organic, eco-friendly materials for Eco Citizen and will be doing so each season going forward. “Traditionally, organic fashion is quite casual, so when Joslin and I discussed garments for her shop we decided to re-fabricate some of the key pieces in my main Spring/Summer '08 collection, which is sharply tailored and classically cut,” said Shepherd. “In the collection for Eco Citizen, the garments are made of organic fabrics. They are sweatshop free, produced locally in San Francisco with fair labor practices.”

Michael Carbaugh, a fellow Academy of Art University graduate, collaborates with Shepherd on the styling for photoshoots, as well as with Arsdale with art direction and visuals. “After having worked with Michael in New York in 2005, it’s great to be able to work together again on this exciting new project,” said Shepherd.

Shepherd’s original collection – the non-organic line – will be available for purchase at MAC in Hayes Valley next season, while her organic line will continue to be sold at Eco Citizen. Although the organic line was made from the same inspiration and ideas as the original fall line, doing the re-fabricating in organic fabrics was a challenge. As her line expands, Sara will definitely be keeping busy. “Being a small label, I still do all the pattern making and sewing of samples,” she said, “but we’ve had some amazing Academy of Art University interns working with. Learning to delegate has been key for me this past season!”

Eco Citizen, 1488 Vallejo St., 415-614-0100, ecocitizenonline.com

Fashion School News Alumni Spotlight: 2002 Fashion and Textile Graduate Michael Carbaugh

2002 Fashion and Textile Graduate Michael Carbaugh is more than keeping busy these days. Let's give him a shout ....

Favorite thing about New York City?
Feeling at home - everywhere.

Favorite thing about San Francisco?
Feeling relaxed - everywhere.

Favorite thing about the School of Fashion?
It's a tribe.

Your great escape?
Yoga.

What are you working on now?
Uniforms.
Men in speedos.
Graphic layout.
Windows.
Teaching.
This questionnaire.

What's playing on your iPod?
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM was - now I'm trying to figure it out.

Last movie you saw?
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - ORLANDO BLOOME- IT'S MAJOR

Some of Michael's styling shots .....

Fashion School News Alumni Spotlight: 2005 Fashion and Textile Graduate Sara Shepherd's Fall 2007 Line

Sara Shepherd, 2005 Fashion and Textile Design graduate, has recently been featured in 7x7 magazine and California Apparel News, showcased in GenArt's Fresh Faces Fashion Show, picked up by M.A.C. at 387 Grove Street in Hayes Valley, and created an organic line for Eco Citizen Boutique at 1488 Vallejo Street.

Combining the creativity and tailoring of her British upbringing with American functionality and wearability, she focuses on unique design details, superb finishings and creative cutting techniques, that are truly grounded in the traditions of mens bespoke tailoring.

GenArt's Fresh Faces in Fashion is a annual runway presentation that showcases up to eight emerging designers and up to four accessories designers in installations. The show takes place in the fall in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles, and in the spring in Miami. Designers are chosen for the show based on nominations from a selection committee of fashion industry professionals in each market. Designers "launched" by GenArt include Zac Posen, Rebecca Taylor, Julie Chaiken, Cloak, Louis Verdad, Milly, Twinkle, Duckie Brown, Sari Gueron, and Shoshanna. Jill Giordano, 2004 BFA Fashion Design, had her line gr.dano selected in 2006.

Its a wonder that Sara has any time to answer our questions!

So you were in the first group of graduates that showed collections during New York Fashion Week in 2005, what did you think?
I was working in NY at the time and I was walking my friend's dog in Bryant Park one evening as they were putting up the tents - I cried, it was completely overwhelming!!! I hadn't ever seen the tents or a show in New York so it just blew me away. I still can't believe that we had the opportunity to show our senior collections in New York fashion week - it was the most amazing experience. All that you can imagine and more....

Favorite thing about New York City?
The energy, the people and the shopping. I also love to drive in Manhattan.

Favorite thing about San Francisco?
The laid-back attitude, the view of the city from Portola/Twin peaks, and the weather.

Favorite thing about the School of Fashion?
The teaching style I work best in (very honest but encouraging) combined with the fact that it's in California.

Your great escape?
Horse riding

What are you working on now?
Autumn Winter 2008 collection and showing my family the sites in California (they're visiting from England)

Tell us about your Spring '08 line.
The inspiration is the story of Alice in Wonderland, but in a modern figurative way - the idea of the personal journey - I translated a number of elements from my trip through Europe this summer - the colour story is literally derived from the tale (the blues and whites traditionally associated with Alice and the reds come from the Queen of Hearts) - the curved seaming, bias cutting, and silhouette make reference to the characters in the tale and also the idea of playing with scale (the getting bigger, getting smaller etc.) -

Thank you Sara. Last question. What’s playing on your iPod?
Always a little bit of Everclear!!!

Here is a peek of her Fall '07 line ...

2005 Fashion and Textile Graduate Sara Shepherd's Fall 2007 Line.
Styled by 2002 Fashion and Textile Graduate Michael Carbaugh.
Photographed by Peter Z. Jones.

Fashion School News Alumni Spotlight: Graduate in Gen Art Fresh Faces Show

On August 22, 2007 - Fashion & Textile Design 2005 Graduate Sara Shepherd showed her collection in the 2007 Gen Art Show at the Regency Center on Sutter Street in San Francisco. Her collection was styled by 2002 Fashion and Textile Design Graduate Michael Carbaugh. Photos by Pat Yuen.