At the May 2006 San Francisco Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony, Ji Won Ree, B.F.A. Knitwear Design, was selected by Guest of Honor Alexander McQueen to work with him in his London studios for three months. During her internship, two of her designs ended up on the runway in McQueen’s men’s wear show.

Through McQueen, she met Jas Sehmbi and began designing knitwear for his Jas M.B. line. In 2007, Jiwon arranged for Jas to visit the School of Fashion to speak to the students. That visit also turned into a reunion of sorts as Director of the School of Fashion Simon Ungless, Alexander McQueen, and Jas were at Central Saint Martins together.

Jiwon has remained in London and today is head of knitwear at Roland Mouret.

What do you do at Roland Mouret?
I am responsible for women’s knitwear. I directly work with Roland Mouret and discuss the style of the designs with him on a regular basis. I also work closely with the women’s wear design team to ensure uniformity of design across the clothing line. I also handle production, which means liaising with the factories and travelling to countries like France, China and Italy.

How long have you been in London?
Just over 2 and a half years

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We caught up with recent School of Fashion Graduate Maggie Mo Luo as she prepares to move to Paris for her internship with Sonia Rykiel, for which she was hand-picked by our honored guest Nathalie Rykiel, Sonia’s daughter, CEO and Creative Director of the Brand

How has your summer been, without the stress of designing a collection?
It was really great. But I felt a little bit empty. Maybe because I was so used to being busy. I was still taking two classes which is really fun. I learned a lot and it was really interesting.

How were your summer classes?
It was great. I took Corsetry and the Tambour beading class. It is all about hand work and couture technique. It will be really helpful for my future work in Paris I think.

Read more about Maggie after the jump! Read more…

Catching Up with the former Burberry Intern and current Product Associate for Sweaters at Polo Ralph Lauren

What was your area of study in the School of Fashion?
I studied Knitwear with a focus on Men’s Wear Sweaters

What was your senior collection like?
My collection was about plaid for men’s sweaters in tan and light blue. It was complicated and very time consuming. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to finish all the pieces I wanted to make. I was very excited to have been chosen for the Burberry internship – it was not expected. I remember crying and sweating under the hot lights at the fashion show. Talk about memories.

Read all about Reggie’s internship with Burberry and his job at Ralph Lauren after the jump! Read more…

Eric Holbreich is in the center wearing a shirt from his collection.

(Photo Credit: Billy Farrell Agency)

We wanted to catch up with B.F.A. Fashion Design Alumnus Eric Holbreich. In May 2010, he presented a women’s wear collection with Camille Bucu at the annual San Francisco Graduation Fashion Show. Since then, he has lived and interned in Paris and is now in New York. He tells us all about his Parisian adventures and why NYC is the place for him!

How long where you in Paris and how was it being there?

Living in Paris is like living in museum. Everything is very coiffed, the buildings, the gardens the people. I was there for a year and I felt it was definitely enough for me! Living abroad made me realize how much of an American I am and want to be.

Tell us about your internship at BLESS?

BLESS is an amazing company that gave me so many opportunities and responsibilities as well as creating friendships that will last a life time. I felt I was part of their family and at the end of my internship that feeling was validated with a job offer; however, I knew that my life was not in Paris and I declined it. Also on the last day of work they told me I had an interview at Balenciaga at 7 and that I should go home and get my portfolio. That was a little insane! I went to the interview and got the job but I ended up getting deported because of Visa issues. I had a feeling I should be in New York anyway!

Read the entire interview after the jump! Read more…

Bethany Meuleners, 2010 M.F.A. graduate with a degree in Fashion and Knitwear Design, is at it again. She has just been featured in an article in Blü Magazine’s most recent issue. In 2010, she received the Fulbright Scholarship, which allowed her to spend 10 months in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, studying traditional apparel and crafts with local artisans (You can read all about her adventures here!). This year, she is working to put Nepal Fashion Week on the map. She will not be showing her own collection, but is instead helping to produce the event, hoping to increase the visibility of the event around the world. Clearly, she is a woman who can do it all – just one of the many reasons we love her!

Click here to read the entire Blü Magazine article.

May 2011 B.F.A. fashion design graduate Stephanie Alegado has just landed a fabulous internship with menswear company Buckler in New York. This name might sound familiar, as the company’s founder and head designer, Andrew Buckler, was an honored guest at the May 2011 Graduation Fashion Show and received the Academy of Art University President’s Award for Excellence. Stephanie will be joining 2007 B.F.A. graduate Munsoo Kwon, who has been designing for the hip label for three years. We chatted with Stephanie as she prepares for her exciting move to NYC!

How did your interview go?

My interview went really well. I had made arrangements to meet with a member of the Buckler team for the interview but I was pleasantly surprised when Andrew himself came out and did the interview! He was so welcoming. We took some time to discuss San Francisco, the Academy of Art University, his experience at the show, and how I found myself in New York to interview for the position. He was very supportive, ensuring that I was familiar with New York and that if I were to make the move that I would have a stable living situation and wouldn’t be having a nervous breakdown my first week there. Fortunately, I’m quite familiar with the city and have plenty of couches to crash on if all else fails!

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Mariah Groves (right) with Walter Van Beirendonck

Mariah Groves is not only a familiar name to the Academy of Art University’s Industrial Design department, but also to the spring 2010 fashion show where many of her jewelry designs were showcased. Groves, who graduated in 2009 and likes to work with metal, plastic — and even foam — has since interned for Walter Van Beirendonck and continues to create her own collections. Fashion School Daily caught up with the alum to learn about her internship, her current designs, and what’s to come from the designer.

You showed many different collections in the Academy of Art University Fashion Show in Spring 2010, which collection did you like best?

I am really most proud of my laser cut neon acrylic pieces which were paired with Melody Bainter’s collection. I feel that those pieces truly showcased my combined background of industrial design and jewelry design in form, material and production methods.

How was your internship with Walter Van Beirendonck? What did you do?

Working for a fashion designer when you did not study fashion design in school is quite the eye opening experience! Literally everything was a new challenge every day from working with fabrics to running errands in a new and very different city. For the first month, I worked on a variety of tasks to help get ready for the show in Paris, from creating fabric color cards for the showroom to helping to make the client books. I then went to Paris and finally got to see everything come together in the runway show, which was very exciting and fulfilling. The last two months were spent on research and concept design for sunglasses Walter designed for Linda Farrow.

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At last year’s Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony, you were selected by menswear designer Patrik Ervell to intern with him in New York. Tell us about the internship. What did you do?

My internship at Patrik Ervell was a great experience. I focused on menswear construction and learned more about the production and details of pattern making. Patrik Ervell is a great example of a small, yet talented and respected brand — with a stronger focus towards quality and functionality rather than mass production.

You are now working at Balenciaga America in NYC. What do you do there?

Balenciaga was an unexpected turn in my career. I have always been a strong believer in following what comes my way, and doing PR at Balenciaga has shown to be one of the best decisions I have made. It is fast paced and intense days with editorial requests and non-stop networking which is very different than what I have done in the past. It has made me see the industry from a completely different angle, and I now realize what it takes to work for a larger fashion house.

How was Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center in February? Did you go to any shows?

Honestly, I spent long hours in the showroom since we had our model casting during that week. I did see a couple  (of shows). One of them was of course the Academy of Art University Show.

How do you like NYC?

Strangely enough, I never had an urge to live in NY. I randomly kept coming back because of work and it has been a great place to grow my job experience. After living here for a year, I have seen other sides that has made me appreciate the city more. It is
definitely a city I have to travel away from to be functioning in.

Do you miss San Francisco?

I miss California in general. It has a beauty and energy that I have never experienced anywhere else. San Francisco is a unique city and I see a lot of great things happening there now. It has an interesting combination of nature, technology and design, which is very different than other cities.

What are some of your favorite things to do in NYC?

Wake up early on a Sunday and take the train up North to Dia Beacon; walk around my neighborhood in Chinatown; and the Brooklyn flea market.

What are some things you want to do in 2011?

Work hard. Create. Continue learning

Fashion School Daily caught up with Andrew Wedge and Amelia Statler, two 2010 B.F.A. Fashion Design Graduates trying to stay warm in New York City.

What are you doing?

ANDREW: I am currently interning for Oscar De La Renta in their furs division.

AMELIA: I am interning at Vena Cava and looking for full-time/freelance design work. I previously interned with Diane von Furstenberg and Elisa Palomino.

Have you been working longer hours as Fashion Week approaches?

ANDREW: It’s getting pretty crazy, but honestly, the hours are always very long at Oscar. I spend anywhere from 9-13 hours a day in the studio, depending on how the collection is coming along. So far it’s been an incredible experience. Everyone on the team is extremely talented and knowledgeable, and the time and love that goes into each piece is astounding.

AMELIA: Vena Cava has pretty set hours but things have been more hectic. I have been doing more pattern making, cutting fabric, and running to and from factories.

How cold has it been there lately?

ANDREW: Miserably cold, I have never experienced such a cold winter. The key is long underwear!

AMELIA: NYC has been FREEZING. There has been snow on the ground for over a month and every day is below 40 at least!

What is a must have item for your closet living in NYC?

ANDREW: Oscar De La Renta fur! Shameless promotion for Oscar aside, I’d say it’s important to mix up your closet in NYC. It’s important to have your basic black pieces, but also you have to have fun with your wardrobe, and mix in unique pieces. I’ve been going through a weird overall phase out here, so lots of vintage military overalls are making their way into my closet.

AMELIA: My heavy Diane von Furstenberg coat and American Apparel nylon leggings. I wear them under pants or tights. Many layers are a must here.

What is your favorite thing about NYC?

ANDREW: My view from my bedroom window definitely. I am living in the East Village and my window looks right out onto the Empire State Building, it’s incredibly beautiful.

AMELIA: My favorite thing about NYC is how many interesting creative types there are here as well as countless museums and galleries. There are never ending sources of inspiration to be found all over the city and I have learned so much since coming here.