

February 17, 2009

Stylistas: Interview With Passion For Fashion Scholarship Winners Ivy Holland and Elisabeth Acosta

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Yesterday I got the pleasure of meeting the two grand-prize winners of the Art Institute's "Passion For Fashion" 2009 scholarship competition: Ivy Holland from Fredericksburg, Texas, and Elisabeth "Sisi" Acosta from Miami, Florida.

The girls, who both won full-ride scholarships to the Art Institute, had just arrived in New York City, and were touring around Manhattan before going to the Rebecca Turbow show last night and the Badgley Mischka show this evening--all part of their sweet prize package.
I saw down with the two in the Teen Vogue offices, and chatted about their passion for design.

Teen Vogue: How did you two find out about the Passion For Fashion scholarship competition?
Ivy Holland: I had seen it on, and there was a board at school with a huge poster on it.
Sisi Acosta: The Art Institute has open houses locally. The one I went to had a workshop for the scholarship, and after the workshop I went home and started sketching.
TV: What did you make, and how did you get your inspiration?
IH: I made purses out of recycled car upholstery. I sat down with a teacher for a couple hours after school and came up with some ideas. It took me 2-3 months to make my entry. I made 5 purses: 2 clutches, a laptop bag, a small shoulder bag, and an oversized bag. I knew how to sew and had made my own clothes before, but it was my first time ever designing a purse. I found it to be really difficult! My stepdad had an upholstery machine that I used [to make the purses], but halfway through, the machine crashed. A lady who was a friend of the family had a machine and let me borrow it. It was really nice of her!
SA: After the workshop, I went home and looked through a ton of magazines. One magazine (I think it was Vogue) had a spread of ballet-inspired dresses. Plus, I had a picture by Degas in my room, so it all came together. We also used to have a channel that showed fashion shows, and I was watching it and saw a skirt with a splotch of paint on it, so I thought to try it. I just recently learned how to sew straight lines--my mom helped me a lot!
TV: Where were you when you found out that you'd won the national competition?
(There were over 50 local winners between the competition categories: Fashion Marketing & Merchandising and Fashion Retail Management, and Fashion Design. Ivy and Sisi then went on to compete versus those local winners, and were the grand prize winners overall.)
SA: I was at the movies with my friends when I found out. I left the movie to take the call, and totally didn't expect it. It was a total surprise--I cried!
IH: I was at a friend's house for the weekend, and was about to go to a bonfire. I didn't know it, but I was on speakerphone, and I heard like 40 voices saying 'Congratulations!'. My first reaction was 'That's really not funny, toying with my emotions." I was completely stunned.

It was great talking to Sisi and Ivy--I found out that Sisi designs and sells her own raw silk covered headbands to her friends at school, and that Ivy is looking into putting her bags into production and selling them.

I think the most inspiring part about Ivy and Sisi is how gracious they were for the opportunity to study for free--they are totally poised to take advantage of the design opportunities in front of them and in the future.

Keep your eyes open for these girls--they're gonna be design stars in no time! (And take a look at these pictures of their prize-winning designs--totally stunning!!)