MODA Designer Profile: Matthew Sumera
Matthew is a second year at the college, double majoring in Visual Arts and Business Econ. He is also the Head of Visual Content on MODA Blog and a first-time designer who has worked on various creative projects for MODA as well as on his own. In his free time he loves picnicking, puzzling, and taco bell with the homies.
What are some sources of inspiration for your collection?
For this collection, I look at my childhood obsession: Bratz. When I was little I wanted to be them so bad. They were just so bad and so much cooler than anyone around me. With that in mind, I wanted to bring the energy the Bratz give me to a more masculine silhouette. I was very much inspired by the adrenaline rush I get when I enter party or a club of complete strangers, where it feels like anything is possible. Thats what I want people to feel wearing my clothes, that anything is possible, and that they’re the coolest person in the room obviously.
Have you ever done fashion design work before? What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process?
This is my first time sewing really ever besides shitty hem jobs. The most challenging aspect is just getting started. It was so daunting at first. I was just like “where do I even start?”, but once you get going it becomes so much easier and fluid. I would say the most rewarding aspect is just seeing the garment coming together and then the finished product.
What are you looking forward to most about the show?
To be finally done sewing.
Who do you have in mind when you’re designing?
I want to design for people who for them fear is a foreign concept. Someone who stands out when they enter a room. Someone who is fully themselves, the accepted and unaccepted parts of themselves. I want someone who isn’t afraid to say whats on their mind; someone who craves the unknown. Overall, I image my clothes worn by those people you see once in life, but they strike a cord with you and the image of them is forever in your memory. That and the kids you see at the club who are scary, hot, and definitely has some kind of substance abuse issue.
Photos thanks to Matthew. Thumbnail by Vivian Li.
