Lisa Hoang has her line of 24 garments modeled at New York Fashion Week 2016. " />
Contributed by Lisa Hoang
Lisa Hoang has her line of 24 garments modeled at New York Fashion Week 2016.
Student Lisa Hoang redefines what it means to be a “well-rounded” student. As a senior studying fashion design and textiles, Hoang is the first-ever NC State student to participate in New York Fashion Week among major designers. New York Fashion Week is one of the four major fashion weeks in the world. The College of Textiles is ecstatic that one of their own has already made such a feat in the industry. Although many were skeptical of a student wanting to participate in such a pivotal event, Hoang proved each and every one of her critics wrong.
“I talked to some people about it and lots of people told me I would fail, but some people said I should go for it,” Hoang said. “I thought, what else would I do? That’s when it hit me. I did research on who owned the show and found out it was owned by IMG, a massive multimedia company. I had my NY PR agent contact them. You have to know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody to get in touch with IMG.”
Hoang balanced a full course load along with an internship, all while preparing for possibly the biggest event in fashion.
“My team didn’t sleep until 3 a.m.,” Hoang said. “We also wake up at 6 a.m. for meetings. We did that all the way up to the show.”
Hoang was prepared for anything as she faced a few road-bumps during the show.
“It’s all a learning process,” Hoang said. “Everything that could go wrong went wrong. People don’t realize how much goes into the show, they just see a pretty 15-minute presentation. The best part was watching my last model walk down the runway.”
Nancy Cassill, the associate dean of the College of Textiles, believes that Hoang’s presentation at New York Fashion Week was a success. Cassill traveled to New York for the show and acted as a voice of reason during an extremely stressful time. Cassill said that this dedication and inability to quit are what have gotten Hoang to where she is today.
“We have our own career services area, just for the College of Textiles,” Cassill said. “Students participate in seminars and register with the career services area. Our launch of a new program called the Student Life Center provides great opportunity for students to take academic learning into careers. The program will be launched on Sept. 30.
Hoang wants to continue to establish herself as a designer. She is currently working on getting her public relations agent to help her get in contact with Lord and Taylor, a high-end department store in New York, that is interested in selling her line. Hoang looks up to many other designers who have influenced her work.
“I am inspired by Alexander McQueen,” Hoang said. “His designs are just phenomenal; they’re so out there. I want to be that type of designer. As I got older I became more of a sophisticated designer, like Chloe and Milan, who focus on designs women could wear to the office.”
Hoang’s collection, “Ready to Wear,” encompasses neutral colors that can be worn in the office. Hoang describes her collection as “sexy-sophisticated,” with clothes that can be transitioned from day to night.
Nancy Webster, adjunct faculty member in the Fashion and Textile Design Program, was thrilled to learn that New York Fashion Week had selected a College of Textiles student to share the main stage among America’s designers.
“Our entire college was ecstatic,” Webster* said. “This is the first time we have had a student that was able and invited and part of NYFW. Not only did that give the student and the program great visibility for the program at NC State.”
Other students can take advantage of all opportunities by being aware of the services the college offers.
“I’ve seen her growth, and it’s very rewarding to watch her bloom as a designer,” Webster said. “She is also extremely aggressive herself in getting internships and outside experience.”
Webster has watched Hoang grow as a student and as a designer since she first taught one of her freshman seminar classes in the College of Textiles.
“I think it was awesome,” Webster said. “She was phenomenal. There is a tremendous amount of pressure and high expectations. She had 24 garments on the runway. I was with her the night before the show and really wanted to be a source of confidence and support to her. She all of this did this herself, though. I just wanted to be there to bring her a sense of calmness.”
Although Hoang leads the dream life of any fashion design student, she tries to make time to be a normal college student as well.
“I still try to go to tailgates,” Hoang said, “But a lot of the time my friends will go on vacations and I’m at home sewing. It’s okay, though, because in the end I know I have to put myself first.”
Hoang is graduating from the College of Textiles and Design this spring and is excited to see what is in store for her as a designer.
*Editor’s Note: This article initially misattributed this quote. The attribution has been corrected.