Givenchy’s Savoir-Faire Meets Modern Expression

Check out this interview with Installation Artist Mason Webb, Photographer Myles Loftin, and Costume Designer Shirley Kurata.

What was your inspiration behind the pillars? 

Mason Webb: This year has been a year of reflection for many of us – a year to pause, and reconsider, or reimagine, our sense of self, our priorities, and our responsibility to ourselves and to each other. I wanted the materiality of the pillars to quite literally embody the idea of reflection as a path to resilience. 

What was the best part about working on this project?

MW: The best part was not only working with my insanely talented friend Myles Loftin, but also the challenges that arose from working within this time of COVID. I’ve never had to make material choices for an installation through a conversation of screen shots before, that was an exciting gamble that paid off. 

How do you think the final design of the installation reflected the series as a whole?

MW: We wanted the installation to really hold the same feeling of uninhibited curiosity and playfulness. The colors, the materials, and the clothing were all chosen with the intention of creating this world of creative youth.

What was your inspiration behind the creative direction of the images and video for the installation?

Myles Loftin: I was really inspired by the show's vibrant energy, all the characters are so interesting and unique. I wanted to emphasize that, along with the colorful and reflective nature of the installation that Mason designed. With the video, I wanted to create a sense of what it’s like to move through the space. Since we were shooting mannequins, I also wanted to create a sense of intimacy that brought them alive and highlighted the garment details.

How do you think the final images reflect the series as a whole?

ML: The images are fun and electric just like the show and its characters.

Where did you look for inspiration when designing the costumes for the show?

Shirley Kurata: I mainly looked at YouTube videos of students interviewing and asking other students what they were wearing. YouTube is used by so many Gen Z teenagers so there was a wealth of great resources. I also looked at various Instagram posts of teenagers that Zelda Barnz, one of the creators of the show, was friends with that she felt would be good inspiration for some of the characters. I also studied teenagers in real life- students at local high schools, teens shopping at malls, teens at skate parks, my friends teenaged kids.

Was any of that knowledge passed along to the FIDM designers who created the looks for the showcase?

SK: Yes, I sent some mood boards and reference photos that I created when I started prepping for the show.

What does this collection mean to you and the show?

SK: It means a lot to me and the show to have these young adults create something so special and creative. As a former fashion student, it is important for me to be a mentor to future designers. I think supporting these creative forces are necessary in keeping the fashion world exciting and fresh.

What was the best part about working with up-and-coming designers on this project?

SK: I really enjoyed seeing how much the designers really understood these characters and what they were about.

How do you think these designer's voices matched up with the characters on the show?

SK: They matched up so perfectly in such a creative and elevated way. I gave a zoom conference breaking down each character, and they were also sent several episodes of the show. With that knowledge they really successfully grasped what the characters would wear, whether it was at school or at a party.