Art Institute Designer Feature - April Davidson

A Louisiana native, April has called many places home. However, her dream of becoming a fashion designer led her to Los Angeles. April’s life experiences are reflected in the deconstructed nature of her designs. Her collections incorporate original screen-prints and a signature hand stitching technique that adds a textured appearance to her leather corsets.

How did you get started as a designer?

I’m currently a student at The Art Institute of California- Hollywood. I will be graduating this Dec 17, 2010 with a BA in Fashion Design. I’ve always been into fashion ever since I was young. My mother taught me how to use a sewing machine and to make clothes at a very young age. Since then I have grown and learned more about designing and constructing garments. I’m always looking for a challenge in my next design and to push myself further than I have before and grow as an artist.

Tell us about your style and where you draw your influence from?

My style is simple but innovative. I like to keep my designs fairly simple, but at the same time add a little something extra to make it interesting. I draw inspiration from everywhere. The inspiration for my last collection came from broken and cracked glass and the sharp angles and lines it makes.

What has being a designer taught you?

Being a designer has taught me to push myself more than I ever have before. The possibilities are endless when it comes to designing and making garments. If you can imagine it then you can create it.

What is on your inspiration board?

The inspiration I use comes from things that I see in the world that are interesting and new to me. I like to take elements from different things that I see or find and put them together in a way that creates something that is completely different and unique.

What was the inspiration for this collection?

The inspiration I used for my current collection was broken and cracked glass. I had a difficult time during the last couple years and it inspired me to create something that resembled something broken and shattered but still whole and stronger and more beautiful because of it. I was inspired by the many lines the glass makes when it is shattered, and I used that in the construction of my garments.

Can you tell me a bit about the fabrics you used?

The fabrics I used for this collection were leather, wool, and cotton. It was my first experience working with leather so there were a lot of things that I had to learn and figure out for myself. I enjoyed working with it so much I continued on to make leather bracelets and holster bags as well as corsets and skirts. I also incorporated some of my designs by screen printing on the garments as well.

Who are your style icons?

I find a lot of designers inspirational in different ways. I respect and admire designers that take chances and create interesting unique garments, as well as designers that keep it simple and classic. Designers such as Vivien Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Colleen Atwood, Skingraft, Diesel, and many others are inspirational to me.

Where are some of your favorite places to shop?

I’m a college student so shopping for me has to be within my budget. I like to shop at places such as Forever 21 and H&M because they are up to date on all the current fashions but are still reasonably priced.

What’s the one article of clothing or accessory that you think every girl or guy should have in their closet?

I think that everyone should own a good pair of jeans and a plain Tee shirt. You can’t go wrong with jeans and a Tee - classic.

What do you think the next fashion trend will be?

I think the next trend will be accessories and bags. I’m working on a line of leather bags, holster bags, and belt bags. I think this will be the evolution of the hand bag.

How do you feel art, fashion, and music influence each other?

I believe that many things can be considered art. Art, Fashion, and music are all forms of art and artistic expression. I’m attracted to all things creative. Each one allows me to express myself in a different way.

Where can people purchase your designs?

You can take a look at my designs on my Facebook fan page, Aprils Design. I take custom orders if there is something specific you want made, or if you see something you like that I have I can make it for you.

Interview by Nikki Neil, Photos by Baokhanh Hoang, Runway Photo courtesy of Art Institute