By Rachel Reyna
The School of Fashion at Academy of Art University has a thriving community of artists and designers who work together to bring their visions to fruition. This year, the students worked hard not only to complete school projects but also to network within the industry.
The students’ success was accompanied by the hard work put in by Academy faculty and the School of Fashion’s Industry Advisory Board members. Installed last spring, the Industry Advisory Board consists of 13 members: Alex Brownless, CEO and co-founder of Arts Thread; Helen Bullock, fashion illustrator, print designer, and lecturer; Jenna Drumright, products and partnerships lead, Google ATAP; Meghan Kasperlik, costume designer; Sara Maino, creative director, Fondazione Sozzani, and international brand ambassador, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana; Deborah Hampton Moore, chief design officer; Ulrich Grimm, design consultant (shoes, bags & accessories), former EVP, global design at Calvin Klein; Brendan McCarthy, founder of Cloud School; Justin Newlin, talent acquisition consultant | design, product, and creative at J.Crew and Madewell; Daniel Reynolds, senior design director of print, Tory Burch; Kate Wallace, creative director of Derek Lam 10 Crosby; Simon O’Mahony, director, creative talent acquisition at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta; and Henry Zankov, creative director and founder of ZANKOV at ZANKOV Studio.
In the past year, Industry Advisory Board members worked to bring new opportunities to fashion students by cultivating community relationships with various brands, from local San Francisco designers to industry favorites, such as Old Navy.
“From our inaugural forming of the Industry Advisory Board, they have been a constant support of high-level thinking,” shared School of Fashion Executive Director Neil Gilks. “Their commitment to forwarding our education has multiple successes: from introductions to their industry networks both domestic and internationally, aiding the showcasing of our students and alums, to being a sounding board and discussion partner for our future planning.”
The goal of having an Industry Advisory Board such as this is to connect students to real-world scenarios and opportunities as well as help keep curriculum and education up to date in an ever-changing industry like fashion.
“Their guidance has offered our students valued feedback, mentorship, and instilled greater critical thinking skills whilst encouraging the School of Fashion leadership to hold fast to our highest standards of expectation and delivery, which befits the gaining of a degree and the preparation of professionals in the pursuit of their chosen careers,” added Gilks.
Art U News caught up with Industry Advisory Board members Brownless and Bullock to learn more about their background in the fashion industry and what they enjoy about being a part of the board.
As the CEO and co-founder of Arts Thread and the Global Design Graduate Show, which collaborates with Gucci and Google Arts & Culture, Brownless builds bridges between students and the established fashion industry.
“I created a platform for students that enables [them] to project themselves and get a break in the industry before they graduate, or they may have just graduated and are looking for a break,” said Brownless.
Graduating with a B.A. Hons in textile design in 1993 from the University of Derby, Brownless has a diverse career designing for such companies as Banana Republic, Gap, and M&S.
Arts Thread is described as a launchpad for art and design students and graduates worldwide. It is a platform for emerging artists and designers to upload their portfolios and share their talents with a worldwide audience. Arts Thread has over 400,000 users, making it the largest online global creative platform for students and university networks.
“It started out as a hobby. But now it’s very much full-time for me, and we just launched the Global Graduate Show,” said Brownless. “At the start of the pandemic, a lot of the students didn’t have access to their workshop studio. End-of-year shows were being canceled globally, and no one would go anywhere. And we thought, well, as we were a platform—Arts Thread—that is focused on students projecting themselves and uplifting their profiles for people, it was a good idea to launch the Global and Creative Graduate Showcase, and so we launched that back in April 2020. This is our fifth year, and there’s nothing bigger on the planet.”
The Global Design Graduate Show is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recently graduated individuals, to share their creative work alongside peers from around the world.
Academy students have found success at the Global Design Graduate Show, including alum Bell Quintão, who was recognized for her fungi-inspired footwear and handbag collection in 2021.
Bullock, a London-based fashion illustrator and print designer, has worked with multiple luxury fashion brands. She is known for her incredible sketches and unique use of texture and color.
“I’ve worked as a fashion illustrator and print designer for nearly 15 years, creating prints for brands including Burberry and Louis Vuitton, and illustrating for houses and brands, including Bottega Veneta and Bally,” shared Bullock. “I have also lectured at institutions throughout the U.K. and worldwide.”
Bullock completed her education in fashion print (B.A./M.A.) at Central Saint Martins. She now works globally, applying her distinctive aesthetic to designer collaborations, magazines, and stores.
“I work for myself, meaning I get to experience every aspect: from pitching for jobs to creating to self-promoting,” explained Bullock. “It’s taken time to carve out a space for myself in the industry, but I feel happy with my progress and genuinely feel so lucky to be doing what I love.”
As part of her role on the Industry Advisory Board, Bullock will be participating in the end-of-semester portfolio reviews.
“I’m visiting the Academy this month and will be involved in portfolio reviews and will also be delivering a fashion illustration workshop,” said Bullock. “I’m also very much looking forward to watching the graduate show.”
Bullock aids students in perfecting the work within their portfolios and sharpening their skills to help them be the best designers they can be. Her years of experience and expertise help students gain knowledge of design and learn how to work under real-life circumstances.
“It’s a pleasure to have been invited to become a member of the board,” shared Bullock, “both in terms of the opportunity I’ve been given to offer feedback and ideas on the development of the course, to hear updates on how well it’s progressing, but also to have met some really inspiring people.”
The School of Fashion extends its many thanks to the members of its Industry Advisory Board. They have put countless amounts of time and effort into ensuring the success and creative development of students at the Academy.