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CEO & Creative Director, The Fath Collective, ‘20–Present: Founder and creator behind brand development, design, ideation, execution, sales, and more, as an entrepreneurial start up.
Custom Special Occasion Wear: Transforming cherished pieces into modern treasures, preserving its sentimental value. Through this intimate process, honoring the item's history and story, garments are transformed into reinvigorated pieces.
Upcycled Apparel: Creating collections of one-of-a-kind garments. In partnership with NY Circular Textile and our local community, we collect would-be-discarded garments from brands and re-create them in to special pieces, targeted towards bridal wear. We use techniques such as re-construction, hand beading, cyanotype, crochet, and more.
Clothing Swaps: Hosted in partnership with small boutique businesses, we curate community events to share, swap, and sell the clothing in our closets that are ready for a second life. All pieces left at the end of the event are taken to a new home through charity donation, upcycled into new styles, or properly recycled.
Collection (in development): Our mission is to create adaptable garments that empower consumers to shape their own timeless fashion. This intentional collection adjusts effortlessly to a body's changes in size and style, offering endless possibilities. Through sustainable materials, thoughtful design, and ethical manufacturing in the USA, The Fath Collective showcases the transformative power of clothing.
Featured Designer, The Journal of American Culture, Mar ’23: Interviewed and quoted in the “Reinterpretation” section of the article “Jeans and their Fashionable Meanings: Revisiting Beverly Gordon’s Cultural Conceptual Framework” by Clare Sauro and Joseph H. Hancock II.
Guest Critic & Lecturer, Thomas Jefferson University, ‘22–’23: Industry guest critic for the ‘23 Senior Fashion Design finals and the ‘22 Fashion Immersion industry project. Connected NY Circular Textile and the Sustainable Concepts course to collaborate students’ industry projects. Oversaw project from transportation of materials to the final critique.
Shop Keeper, Sweet Peel Vintage (formerly known as Philly Vintage Bazaar), ’23—'24: Style, merchandise, and maintain shop while enhancing the vintage shopping experience. Increase sales and customization by offering alterations on the spot to clients. Managed highest sales day of Summer 2023.
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Sustainability Leadership Graduate Certificate, Thomas Jefferson University, GPA: 4.0
Freelance Designer & Consultant, Play-PKL, ‘21–Present: Design and develop prints, flat sketches, and tech packs with clear communication and collaboration in the development of this pickle ball brand.
Showcase & Panel Guest, DesignPhiladelphia, Oct ’22: Showcase of up-cycled work featured at Cherry Street Pier and guest panelist for Jefferson’s conversation on “Sustainable Design through Environment and Ethics”.
Alumni Keynote Speaker, Thomas Jefferson University Convocation, Aug ’22: Delivered welcome address to new students and their families at the start of their first semester. *Student speaker in Aug ‘18 and Aug ’15.
Freelance Stylist, Sink R Swim, ‘21–’22: Retail stylist for Black Friday weekend, offering full look curation to customers. On set styling for the Summer ‘22 campaign photoshoot
Custom Dress Maker, Freelance, ‘22–Present: Specializes in up-cycling heirloom garments and bridal wear.
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Women’s Designer, Jetty, ‘21–’22: Plan, design and execute the expansion and development of the women’s line. Included creative concept, coordination with manufacturers, technical design, styling and directing photoshoots, sales through trade shows, and communication with marketing.
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MS International Fashion Design Management, Thomas Jefferson University, GPA: 4.0
Alternative Photography Printer, Freelance, ‘19–’22: Cyanotype fabric printing for clients Christy Rilling, photographed by Laurie Simmons, and Marcus Leatherdale via Roman Zangief, shown at Throckmorton Fine Art. Marcus Leatherdale collaboration on Auction here.
Deadstock Designer & Analyst, Marni & Thomas Jefferson University, ‘20– ’21: Graduate independent study analyzing the environmental impacts of the fashion system and providing solutions for brands to transition to a sustainable, circular model
Graduate Assistant, Thomas Jefferson University, ‘19-’20: Leadership teammate for the Fashion Immersion undergraduate course including network development, NYC trips, virtual panel moderation, and student career advising.
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Menswear Knit Designer, Van Heusen & PVH Corp, Summer ‘19: Design and develop the Menswear Knits collection after two summers interning for Van Heusen and IZOD Menswear.
Emerging Designer, New York Fashion Week, Feb ’19: Senior collection, “I Believe You”, involving hand printing, up-cycling, and advocacy, debuted on the NYFW Runway for Fashion Week 2019.
BS Fashion Design, Thomas Jefferson University, GPA: 3.95
Student Speaker, Thomas Jefferson University Commencement, May ’19: Selected to deliver the graduation speech to the graduating class of 2019
Jefferson Commencement, Provosts Award for Excellence
School of Design & Engineering, Academic Excellence in Fashion Design
Fashion Industries Association Award, Best of Show
Nicholas Louis Palumbo Award, Design Excellence in Menswear
Student Government Association, Student Body President
Delta Phi Epsilon, Epsilon Phi Chapter, New Member Educator, Order of Omega: Greek Honors Society
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Featured Designer, GQ, Architectural Digest, & Wired, Fall ’18: Interviewed & filmed with senior collection, “I Believe You” to be featured in Conde Nast Ads.
Design Intern & Intern Mentor, PVH Corp & Van Heusen, Summer ’18: Assist the Vice President of Design in curating the Fall 2019 collections through trend forecasting, concept development, and technical sketching, in addition to leading teams in the Intern Project.
Evelyn & Paul Knudsen Red Dress, Excellence by a Junior
AHA Go Red for Women Fashion Show, Second Place & Window Display at Macy’s CC
Student Government Association, Student Body Vice President
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UArk: Rome Center, Rome, Italy, Semester Abroad
Design Intern & Intern Mentor, PVH Corp & IZOD, Summer ’17: Assist the Active Performance Designer in preparing the collection for Fall 2018 including the Tennis Line, Advantage Fleece Program, and Graphic Tees, in addition to working on projects through the intern program
Joan Calabrese, Design Excellence in Childrenswear
Student Government Association, Sophomore Class President

Vanessa at her Vovo's sewing machine where she learned to sew when she was just 4 years old
A Fath Collective x Ann Coen Pop Up

Excerpt from The Journal of American Culture

Guest Lecturing at Thomas Jefferson University

A day at Philly Vintage Bazaar

Play-PKL Summer 2023

Play-PKL Summer 2023

Look 1 for Design Philadelphia Showcase. Fully up cycled from a 2000's prom dress.

Look 2 for Design Philadelphia Showcase. Fully up cycled from a 2000's prom dress.

Look 3 for Design Philadelphia Showcase. Fully up cycled from a 2000's prom dress.

Sustainable Design through Environment and Ethics Panel

Jefferson's Convocation Alumni Keynote Speaker

Sink R Swim Summer 2022 Shoot with Ann Coen

Custom reception set for bride's wedding in Costa Rica

Jetty FW22

Jetty FW22

Jetty FW22

Jetty FW22

Jetty FW22

Opening night of Marcus Leatherdale's last exhibit at Throckmorton Fine Art

Marcus Leatherdale, wearing the vest, with Vanessa

The vest worn currently at auction

Printing for Christy Rilling Studio

Printing for Christy Rilling Studio

Printing for Christy Rilling Studio

Printing for Christy Rilling Studio

Synopsis of MARNI proposal

Snapshot of one look from the collection

Graduate Assistant with students and faculty infront of the MET after fashion shows and go-sees in NYC

Van Heusen FW20

IZOD FW18

NYFW, February 2019

Jefferson Annual Fashion Show, May 2019
Jefferson's Commencement, Student Speaker

Red Dress on display at Macy's in CC Philadelphia

AHA Red Dress Banquet
Award Winning Childrenswear

Childrenswear on display in exhibit at Temple University, Tyler School of Art

Sisters and Owners of The Fath Collective, LLC