Runway XII: From Sketch to Spotlight
Strike Magazine Gainesville is gearing up to host its annual spring runway show — an event meant to celebrate the artistry and craftsmanship of young designers in the area.
In this behind-the-scenes glimpse, meet the innovative minds fueling Runway XII, and learn about the inspirations for their collections this season. Join us as we pull back the curtain on one of Strike’s most anticipated events.
Georgia Harris
Image courtesy: Isa De Miguel
From sewing a wardrobe for her American Girl dolls to foraging wild clay deposits for pottery projects, Georgia Harris has been drawn to art and design for as long as she can remember. Though her technique and mediums have evolved since childhood, what still drives her work is her imagination, ingenuity and desire to create pieces that shock the masses and challenge the norms.
Pulling inspiration from contemporary runway knitwear and fusing that style with facets of architecture, Harris has created a compilation of motifs in her runway designs that reflect through her experimentation with asymmetry, deconstruction and geometry. Harris strives to push the limits and show people that knitting can be far more than sweaters and blankets by playing with thicker yarn weights and relying on spontaneity over stringent plans and patterns.
“I hope to surprise people by challenging what they believe knitting can be. I want to show people that knitting is not just a time-passing hobby for old ladies in chilly climates. It is art. It is beautiful. It is ugly. It can harbor a story. It is an age-old tradition that I want to give a new life and meaning to,” she said.
Harris is a self-described pioneer in expanding knitwear within the fashion realm. She hopes to see the style progress into the design of accessories, bathing suits, gowns and beyond as we move further into the future. Her bold designs featured this season in Runway XII are a testament to her vision with each knitted stitch.
Amaia Morgan
Inspired by the film “Barbarella” and the Balmain designs from Fall of 2022, designer Amaia Morgan took to innovative methods to create her look for Runway XII. She used spoons to craft an armor-inspired, eco-friendly look, showcasing sustainability while simultaneously striking the runway with a bold, unique design.
Image courtesy: Isa De Miguel
Throughout the design process, Morgan faced challenges with the malleability of the spoons. Nevertheless, through trial and error, she eventually crafted a method that worked for her goals. Morgan utilized silver fabric and silver hardware alongside spoons to bring her final piece together. The varying materials combine harmoniously to create an innovative piece for Runway XII.
“With this design, I hoped to share the message of how fashion really can be sustainable and creative. Through my design, I also wanted to send a message about conscious consumption and the value of reimagining and repurposing existing resources,” Morgan said.
Lindsey Sims
For designer Lindsey Sims, design is a means of investigating the interplay between colors, patterns and her own style. Sims’ designs are inspired by modern and natural silhouettes, representing both femininity and masculinity in androgynous outfits that everyone can appreciate.
Image courtesy: Paris McKnight
In this particular look, Sims chose blues, greens and grays to match the color palette for the shoot and aimed to present her design in a tasteful way that strayed away from oversaturated and overbearing designs. Her piece also includes black and white, so the main colors coordinate with each other in a sensible, timeless fashion. Different materials, including mesh and see-through fabrics, combine to make this look dynamic and striking. According to Sims, “The mesh will move in rhythm with each other,” making the look truly come alive.
Jesse Pickel
Jesse Pickel displays a rugged, urban-chic look with intricate layering, an ombre look with a hooded top with strategic gaps and distressed details. Paired with loose denim jeans and open combat boots, the look exudes a raw, edgy vibe with a touch of rebellious flair. Pickel incorporated his style into the look and mixed some street style with punk and rave attire. Pickel's personal touch was evident as he expressed, “I like the idea of being authentically misunderstood, and I hope my look translates that effectively.”
Drawing inspiration from designers unafraid to delve into darkness, such as Rick Owens, Demna Gvasalia of Balenciaga and Grace Jones, Pickel aimed to evoke feelings of darkness and androgyny with his look.
“Everyone on the Strike staff knows I am a huge fan of looks with a hood, and that is primarily because of Grace Jones and her signature look. I also just love a hood because it provides a certain level of drama and mystery to a look,” Pickel said.
As we explore the inspiration behind this collection, it's crucial to acknowledge the designer's candid reflections as he vocalized his feelings. “I felt I faced a personal challenge of overcoming imposter syndrome, which I feel every creative goes through when showcasing their art to the world.” This personal journey adds a layer of empathy and understanding to the collection, making it even more relatable to the audience.
Jeanina Del Castillo
Jeanina Del Castillo seamlessly blends artistry with everyday wear, crafting pieces that resonate with the spring season. Drawing inspiration from nature, she created looks that exude refreshing vitality. Despite encountering challenges when creating these looks, her creation didn’t cease. “I honestly love something that challenges me cause it pushes me to create better work in the long run.”
Del Castillo aims to evoke the sensation of a blossoming springtime, infusing her garments with a fresh, crisp allure accentuated by unique details rarely encountered in everyday attire. “I wanted to play with textures that are fun, different and comfortable to the person that’s wearing the piece,” she expressed.
In Del Castillo's collection, she skillfully crafts garments from sturdy, breathable materials chosen for their tactile comfort and timeless appeal, perfectly suited for the season's essence. Reflecting on her inspiration, she notes, “A lot of my artwork involves nature, so I thought it would be cool to include those factors into my clothing.” This seamless fusion of nature-inspired artistry and functional design creates a captivating aesthetic that resonates with the model.
Alana Torres
Image courtesy: Cameron Relicke
Alana Torres reinvents crochet fashion by exploring its diverse forms, from tapestry to lace crochet and soft velvet yarn. With a focus on showcasing the intricacies of each technique, Torres embeds her designs with the hopes of “want[ing] to show the subtlety and many facets of crochet fashion, establishing [her] signature on it.” Balancing aesthetic vision with practicality, she navigates the time-consuming nature of crochet, ensuring her creations remain both artistic and feasible within real-world constraints.
Texture emerges as the main theme in Torres's work. With each fabric, it can look different when it’s crocheted. This collaboration of tactile elements creates a visual symphony, inviting viewers to engage with her designs on a deeper level. Torres hopes to inspire and stimulate emotions of awe.
Above all, Torres strives to merge femininity with power in her designs, crafting garments that empower the wearer while exuding elegance and grace. Torres says, “I’ve always liked feminine silhouettes and designs, but I [especially] like feminine styles that evoke power.” With a commitment to artistry, practicality and emotional resonance, Alana Torres's designs stand as a testament to the transformative potential of crochet fashion.
The runway event will be a culmination of art and design as it intersects the work of Gainesville creatives with that of Strike designers. This will bridge the gap between artists across the area, and the staff showcase will give guests a sneak peek into the long-awaited Issue 12 collection of Strike Gainesville.
Experience the collective creativity and style at Runway XII, where visionary Gainesville designers and Strike staff come together to produce art in fashion and showcase their latest collections. Don't miss this exclusive event on April 21 at 7 pm, hosted at Vivid Sky Music Hall. Purchase presale tickets here and witness a runway you won’t forget!
Strike Out,
Writers: Denisa Fluturas, Sofia Ramos, Olivia Hansen
Gainesville
