Lea Carey, 2014
Lea Carey ’14 is doing all the right things as a senior art major. She’s networking, interning, and constantly creating artwork. (Not to mention, inspiring many of her peers!) We got the scoop on some of her amazing experiences with textile design and her advice for young artists.
Have you always been interested in textile design?
I was completely oblivious to the world of textile design before Skidmore! I enrolled in textile structures sophomore year and saw the textile surface design projects in progress in the fiber art studio. I enrolled in the class the following semester and fell in love.
Tell us a little about your internship experience. You even had some of your patterns shown by designers!
I have been incredibly fortunate to have had some amazing internship experiences the past few summers. This summer I worked for a company called Rikshaw Design, which specializes in Indian block-printed textiles and designs women’s and children’s clothing and accessory lines. I was able to assist in product development and also learn a lot about the tricks of the trade of running a small business.
The previous summer I interned with Andre Balazs Properties doing mostly graphic design work, and also with the menswear designer Michael Bastian. I have always been interested in the fashion industry—and more recently fashion textile design in particular—and because of this, the internship with Michael Bastian was an especially positive experience. I witnessed all of the logistics and hours of work that go into designing a collection and preparing for Fashion Week, and was lucky enough to receive the opportunity to contribute some of my prints to the Michael Bastian collaboration with Uniqlo, printed on Uniqlo polo shirts during spring/summer 2013.
What are your plans for the near and distant future?
I have always been a planner, but right now I am trying not to get too far ahead of myself with future plans. One day I would love to start my own design company, but I foresee many jobs and freelance work experiences in between now and then…
What is your advice for young artists/designers?
Photograph your work! And don’t be afraid to explore new mediums.
Check out Lea’s awesome designs on her new website and definitely keep your eye on this one; she’s only just begun her artistic career!