>>Back to student profiles

Six students at Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia are competing in Wearables' new Fashion Faceoff contest. Juniors in Moore's fashion program have spent the year desigining and constructing athleisure looks, and we added on to their assignment, asking them to create an original embellishment design for a blank garment from Vantage Apparel. Check back regularly to learn more about Monica and her work. 

Name: Monica Bates
Age: 25
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA

Q. Who are your design inspirations?

A. The designers I reference and look up to the most are Christian Siriano, Zac Posen and Stuart Vevers at Coach.

Q. How would you describe your design aesthetic?

A. I like to play with colors, patterns and textures by mixing and matching them together. For instance, I might take a cream bouclé fabric for a cape and match it with a taupe suede fringe. I draw inspiration from the smallest things, like a peony flower growing in my backyard, to more complicated subjects like the depths of anxiety and pandemonium. I like to have variation in my design to show what I’m capable of designing and constructing. I love creating interesting silhouettes that make the wearer always have one statement piece to their outfit. My ideal market is women’s fashion with an age bracket between 25-35.

Q. Where do you see yourself in five years?

A. After I graduate, I see myself stepping in the corporate world for at least five years to get my feet wet, as well as network with other designers. My ideal job would be at Coach Headquarters in New York, as I have a strong passion for purses and accessories. Coach designs clothing as well, so it would give me many opportunities to design different kinds of products and to work with different materials and mediums.

UPDATES:

• Check out Monica Bates' lookbook to see her athleisure designs in progress.
• Watch this video to find out why Monica entered the Fashion Faceoff contest.
• Check out this slideshow to see Monica's concept for Vantage.
• Watch this video to find out what Monica learned from working with Vantage.
• Find out what judge's had to say about Monica's athleisure mini-collection.
• See Fashion Faceoff contestants' looks walk the runway. 

Fan-Favorite Poll

The winner has already been selected by a panel of experts, but we want to know who you think won the Fashion Faceoff! Vote now.