Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.
Issue link: https://loumag.epubxp.com/i/197412
DeÕSean Isom 18, Pleasure Ridge Park High, senior Most Likely To . . . design the next royal wedding dress. Designer, artist, repurposer. De'Sean has won several awards for his fashion designs, and his pieces were featured in last year's Runway for the Roses fashion show. He has participated in the Governor's School for the Arts. How did you get into fashion? "When I was younger, I always liked to sew. When I couldn't fnd anything I liked in the store, I would think of ideas of how I could make it myself. I got a sewing machine when I was 10, and I didn't learn how to use it until three years ago. That's when I started making a lot of my designs." What's your design process? "When I get an idea from some kind of art or animal, I get inspired and sketch them out and try to make the design as close to the sketch as possible. I have more of a steampunk style." What's that? "It's like industrial-feeling, with rust and metallic and stuf like that. At the Runway for the Roses, (local designer) Gunnar Deatherage actually recognized it. He walked in and was like 'Oh, that's steampunk!' It was prety cool that he understood my style and what my vision was." What fabrics do you like? "I don't usually throw anything away. I keep things and recycle them and revise them. Like most of my designs are made from Mom's old pants. What I'm wearing right now, the sleeves are her old pants. This, I used a panel of curtain. Turned it into a jacket." Are you from here? "I am originally from Evansville, Ind., but I came here from Indianapolis. I lived in Michigan for a while, so this is the third state I've lived in. So far it's the best one, with the fashion and art here." When you do shop, where do you go? "Mostly online because I can't fnd anything in stores. Macy's and T.J. Maxx. I try to get something that no one else would wear at school. Or I'll make it myself, which no one will ever have. Unless I start my own label." 50 LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 11.13