People of Central: Emily Stabile

Threads fashion show on April 12 will be senior, Emily Stabile’s first time seeing her designs on the runway.

“I’m very nervous, it’s going to feel very rewarding though,” Stabile said.  

Majoring in fashion design with merchandising and art as her minors, the CMU fashion program brought her to Mount Pleasant from her hometown, Petoskey MI.  

“I was always really creative so finding a creative outlet that also gave me actual job opportunities [was my motivation to pick fashion as my future career],” she said.  

Starting at age 12, Stabile found a passion for designing from dressing up and finding different sparkly patterns at stores like Joann’s.  

“I always looked up to my mom for fashion advice, she encouraged me to dress up wherever I went, she still influences a lot of what I buy and wear,” she said. 

Stabiles is designing for three models and is the producer for the 2025 Threads Fashion Show. While in college she plans to build skills in all areas of fashion design.

The theme for the show is “Night in the spotlight.” Stabile said its very showgirl, with lots of sparkles, and the color red.

Inspiration for Stabiles comes from her own personal style, colors, and patterns she likes. Feminine pink and red along with anything with a metallic finish are some of her favorites to work with.  

Dr. Jihyun Sung and Dr. Pimpawan Kumphai are professors Stabiles has had who have greatly influenced her passionate drive for fashion.

“We’re pushed to be very creative and think outside of the box,” Stabile said.  

Stabiles, along with her fellow fashion students are dedicated to their work,.

“Sometimes we’re in the sewing lab until it closes at 10 p.m.,” she said.  

When asked if it is hard to have a social life, Stabiles said it is not hard to make friends within the fashion program at CMU.

“We’re a really tight nit group and we all know each other pretty well,” she said. 

Looking to the future, Stabiles hopes to work in fashion show production, design, or brand management.

“There are actually a lot of job opportunities in fashion design,” she said.