We are hopeful that this is the first several interviews with Bluffon students who graduated from college this spring. We invited other 2020 grads to tell their story. Contact us at: [email protected].

15 minutes with Katie Scott

Icon: You’ve graduated from Kent State University this spring. What’s your degree?
Katie: I have a BA in Fashion Design.

What is your specific interest in fashion?
Katie: My design focus is knitwear and denim, but I also do fashion illustration. 

What were some of the classes you took at Kent State in fashion?
Katie: Some of the required classes I took were in apparel construction, fashion drawing, patterning, draping, as well as the standard studio and portfolio classes. I also took various fashion electives like machine and hand knitting. 

Icon: Will there be a Katie Scott line of clothing coming in the future?
Katie: Only if I could find some investors and design partners! I definitely prefer designing in a group instead of being the one in charge. The industry does not favor small businesses.

I understand you were in Europe for a time, tell us about that.
Katie: I spent a semester in Florence, Italy at the campus Kent State has there. As a class we also visited Milan, Paris, and London. I’m very grateful to have gone to all these places I wouldn’t have been able to visit otherwise, like fashion trade shows and high-end concept stores.

It was a lot of fun but it definitely wasn’t a vacation. I was pretty much working the entire time, whether it was in the studio or running around trying to get my projects printed.

It showed me that it’s only easy to travel in Europe if you don’t have a full fashion course load. 

What initially sparked your interest in fashion design?
Katie: I always knew that I wanted to go into a creative field, but I wasn’t good enough at the fine arts to make a career out of it. Eventually that line of thought drew me to fashion, where I would be able to create things that people could actually use in their daily lives.

I’m really glad I did choose fashion, it turned out to be a lot more enjoyable than I ever thought it would be, and I’ve improved a lot through my years at school.

Any classes or teacher in high school or elementary who inspired or encouraged you in this area?
Katie: Of course, all the art classes I took from Mrs. Garmon at BHS helped me immensely. Also, the writing and English classes with Mrs. Knowlton and Ms. Erford helped me expand my creativity and taught me how to translate my ideas into writing.

What sewing machine you do have?  
Katie: My family has an old Husqvarna sewing machine from the 1980s. It still works really well, even if it’s much slower than the industrial machines I use at school.

Do you make your own clothes, or is this a crazy question?
Katie: I have! Making clothes is really expensive from both a material and time perspective so I don’t have a lot of pieces I’ve made myself. I definitely prefer designing for others. However, I’m pretty sure I’ve mended every single pair of pants I own in some form. 

What do you hope to do next in this field?
Katie: I hope to get a job in knitwear somewhere, or somewhere at a brand that’s out there doing something to help fix the bloated, horribly poisonous fashion industry. 

In a completely different direction, what are you reading these days? Do you have a book or author to recommend?
Katie: Since the libraries have been closed, I’ve only been reading what’s around the house, which are a lot of comic books from my childhood. If anyone wants to get their children into art and comic books, check out Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly’s comic compilations for kids, "Little Lit."

Icon: Thanks for talking with us and we wish you well in your future.