THREADS Designer Spotlight: Ashley Hetzer

During winter break Ashley Hetzer, an apparel merchandising and design junior, was really hesitant about designing for the 2011 THREADS fashion show for the first time.

Now, Hetzer is glad that she decided to complete a line for the show on Saturday.

Hetzer will be designing for the fall/winter portion. She stated that she wasn’t into bright “springy colors,” so she chose to use black because it always looks good on the runway.

Hetzer then paired black with a deep maroon to complete her color scheme.

“All of it’s my aesthetic and what I would wear,” Hetzer said.

The aesthetic she described is classy, sexy and put together, yet still fun. That is why velvet is her fabric of choice because she has always wanted to use it for designing.

What brought her looks together was the use of taffeta, lace and lace trimmings for detail and texture which she purchased at Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts, 4208 E. Bluegrass Road.

Hetzer created two dresses, pants and a top.

The first look is a plain taffeta T-shirt style dress. Hetzer plans to belt the dress and pair it with velvet leggings that she trimmed with side seam lace, which are currently causing her lots of problems.

The second look is a black sleeveless sheath dress with side cut outs.

The separate look includes a pant, which she created a lace top accompanied by a velvet bandeau bra to go underneath. Her looks were all created by altering flat patterns to make them her own, unique designs, and the sewing was all completed at her house.

“I just feel more comfortable,” Hetzer said.

She tried to avoid the apparel sewing lab located in Wightman hall because it is usually filled with a lot of design students and can be distracting.

At first, Hetzer wanted to apply for all the design awards available.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Hetzer said. “You’re not going to lose.”