Designer Of The Week

If you take a look at her music playlist you’ll most likely see a lot of The xx, The Strokes, and Radiohead.No, she’s not a musician part time, nor is it one of her hobbies.

When junior apparel design and manufacturing major, Lisa Hon, gets an idea for a design, music is most likely the influence.

“Music is my number one influence. I’m a very indie/alternative listener,” Hon said. “Really anything with a slow melody and beat to it. It helps me see how the clothes will move, like for a runway show. I guess that’s what I always go to. How will the model walk with it on? What will it look like? What sounds would I hear?”

Meet Lisa Han, our designer of the week.

The Lubbock native said art is another big influence when it comes to her clothing designs. In fact, Hon said her most recent piece that is going to be displayed at the First Friday Art Trail in December is her favorite. She said she feels like the piece has a lot of movement to it, which is why she likes it so much.

“There’s a quote that I love that I just found for my art piece,” she said. “It’s based off of a play: ‘I’m not interested in how people move but in what moves them.'”

When Hon describes her designs she said she thinks they’re more edgy than girly. Hon said the older she gets, the more she’s starting to go out of her comfort zone.

What’s not out of her comfort zone is not only designing, but styling as well. Hon said she has been working at Ann Taylor in Lubbock for a year now. She said she has learned a lot during her time there. Hon said it has helped her realize the other side of fashion. She said she feels like many designers don’t look at the business side of fashion and working in retail will help her with her future job.

Some of Lisa Han’s sketches.

Hon said originally she thought she was going to major in business. She said that all changed after she watched her older sister go through business at Tech. Hon said in high school she had her sights set on event planning. She said she had an epiphany after she took a fashion marketing class. Hon said she fell in love with everything about it.

After telling herself that’s what she wanted to major in, Hon said she came to Tech and decided to get involved with Hi-Tech Fashion Group. She said she was the historian and now she is the secretary. Hon said the best part about the group is that the members are so diverse. She said it’s been a fun experience getting to bring more fashion awareness to the Tech campus.

Another place she would like to make an influence on is France, Hon said French is her minor and she is very interested in studying abroad next semester. Eventually, she said that is where she would like to work after she graduates. She did not name a specific designer or company she would like to work for, she just seemed really optimistic and excited about going overseas.

Her Cotton Inc. design that won third place.

For now, Hon said she is focusing on her time here at Tech and reaping the benefits of what the apparel design and manufacturing program has to offer. She was recently awarded third place in the Cotton Inc. challenge. She said it was an an amazing experience.

“It was an all-expense paid trip to North Carolina to visit Cotton headquarters,” she said. “The Cotton company donated denim to us. I made a biker jacket that was studded. It was really fun.”

Hon said with only being a junior, she is looking forward to her senior year and senior show to see how much she learns and grows as a designer.

To learn more about Hon and her fashion designs check out her page, here.