Student designer on the move

October 19, 2004 6:04 PM
by

The first fashion week in San Francisco was a great experience I will never forget. Eager designers, both old and new, were on hand to display their sculptures in cloth. With an invitation to each show, how could I go wrong?

Many of the designers displayed their pieces, but one stood out from the rest, Tamara Madison. She goes by Madison and happened to be one of the students from the San Francisco fashion instuite,which held fashion week.

What better designer to interview for the fashion section? She's young, fresh and trendy; I knew she was the one. With her busy school and work schedule she made time to do this interview. Please give a warm CoolJunkie welcome to Madison, SF's up and coming fashion diva.

CJ: Name
M: Tamara “Madison”

CJ: Age
M: 24 years

CJ: Born and Raised:
M: Born in Southbend, Indiana and raised mostly Williamsburg, VA, my father was in the army; we usually traveled and moved a lot.

CJ: Schools attended including high school and year graduated: M: Bruton High school graduated in 1998

CJ: How long have you been going to Fashion School?
M: Only for about 2 years

CJ: At what age did you decide you wanted to enter the fashion design industry and a Designer?
M: I knew I wanted to become a fashion designer since I was nine.

CJ: In deciding which school to attend, what where your choices and why did you pick the fashion institute of San Francisco?
M: I picked the AIC- SF because they had a bachelor’s degree and the other school that I went to Art Institute of Seattle didn’t have a bachelor’s program, I randomly chose San Francisco I have never been here.

CJ: Was the first fashion week in San Francisco the first showing of your pieces? If not when?
M: No I have done a ton of fashion shows before. I enjoyed that show completely, it was a wonderful experience.

CJ: While I was at the fashion show I noticed you where the only student with male clothing, is designing clothing for men the area your going into?
M: Yes, a couple of years ago I decided to do menswear instead of women’s wear because I was bored with women’s wear, I am more passionate with men’s clothing and feel that I’ve found my niche.

CJ: Are there any other areas of the fashion industry you would like to explore or also go into?
M: Yes, I would love to continue with menswear but tailoring suits etc. Also I love designing handbags so, I think that I would like to explore in those areas as well.

CJ: Who are your top 3 favorite designers?
M: Burton Snowboards, Alexander Mc Queen, and Vivienne Westwood.

CJ: When you retire how would you like to be remembered in the fashion industry.
M: I would like to be remembered as the most unique, inventive and most “Kick A#!“ menswear designer.”

CJ: When completing school what is the first thing you would like to accomplish?
M: I would like to eventually open my own business, or just work for a great design house within the bay area.

CJ: Madison shares with the readers a secret about your style of designing that will make your mark in the industry?
M: Well, first of all, I am one of the few handfuls of female menswear designers out there, and I primarily focus on outerwear whether men’s or women’s, my line is highly marketable, I have a plethora of ideas up my sleeve and I am confident that I will make my mark in the industry.

CJ: Name one dream you have when entering the industry you would like to do?
M: When I enter the industry I hope to have a wonderful staff under me, a design team that will blow any other designers team out of the water. I will have a couple of houses on both coasts and by this time already be married to my special “one.”

CJ: If someone in the music industry asked you to design a line of clothing for a certain genre of dance music, which genre would it be?
M: Alternative

CJ: What DJ today would you like to design a shirt for with the Madison name on it?
M: Oh my goodness, that’s tough. Probably DJ shadow.

Thank you Madison for taking the time to do this CoolJunkie Interview.