Designer Of The Week

Clothing design by Amanda Stallcup.

Rachel Zoe is one of the most famous fashion icons in style history, and if Amanda Stallcup had a choice, she would take Zoe’s life and turn it into a class.

“If I could physically be her that would be cool,” Stallcup said. “Can I major in being Rachel Zoe? That would be even better. I think following what she did for her career (personal styling and shopping) and then making it into a bigger career would be the ultimate dream job.”

Sketches and clothing design by Amanda Stallcup.

The 23-year-old from Odessa, Texas, has a passion for fashion and is ready for Tech’s upcoming apparel design and manufacturing senior show. Stallcup said she is ready to show off her designs and to graduate. She said she knew she wanted to be a fashion designer from the time she was very young.

Stallcup said she went to a fine arts elementary school from kindergarten through sixth grade. She said she thinks it had a major impact on her artistic abilities and why she considers herself to be so craft-y. Stallcup said when she was younger she used to draw models and designs, but they’ve definitely evolved since then.

She said she would consider her designs to be more on the simplistic side with accent points. Stallcup said she doesn’t typically go toward the girly designs. She said she likes designs that bring out femininity, but she likes creating clothing that is empowering. Stallcup said she wants the wearer to feel confident in her designs.

She said over the years she’s realized being an ADM major is not all it’s cut out to be.

“It’s an insane amount of work. It’s really a misconception a lot of the time,” she said. “We’re up here working in the sewing lab as much as someone would work on engineering or architecture. It’s blood, sweat and tears. It’s super intense.”

Our Designer of the Week, Amanda Stallcup. The vest she is wearing is a design she designed and created.

Stallcup said the process of creating a design from start to finish can be tedious, but the reward of creating something unique is worth it. Stallcup said if she really wanted to create an piece of clothing from start to finish she could complete it in 24 hours, but she would never compete on Project Runway.

She said ultimately she would like to own a boutique of her own and sell some of her own clothing pieces in the store. Stallcup said in order for that form of business to be successful, one has to build up a clientele. With one of Stallcup’s minors being retail, she thinks it would be the best fit for her.

Stallcup said her family is her best support system — especially her older sister, Holly. She said Holly is basically her own public relations manager. Stallcup said her sister is always texting her to see Stallcup’s new designs so she can send them to people.

As much as Stallcup loves to design, she would also describe the major as “bittersweet.”

“You begin by loving this idea you’ve created, you end up hating it, and six months later you can love it again,” Stallcup explained. “Every garment is a relationship. It’s basically the worst boyfriend you’ve ever had.”

So, when Stallcup wants a break from design and retail, she said she turns to her other major, jewelry making. During our meeting she pulled out a ton of new stones she had just purchased to make new accessories. Stallcup said she is excited to share the pairing of her jewelry designs with her clothing designs for her senior show.

In her opinion, Stallcup said she would consider garment making to be more difficult than creating jewelry. She did say that making some jewelry pieces includes determination and serious muscle.

Sketches and clothing design by Amanda Stallcup.

“If you ever wear a piece of hammered metal in your life, thank the person who made it. My arms are killing me,” she said.

Stallcup said if she could ever go to a fashion week she would go to Paris Fashion Week because it’s the essence of style. She gushed over the personalized Burberry ponchos for at least five minutes and then proceeded to take another 10 minutes to show me the rotating runway that turned in a circle at Alexander Wang.

Needless to say, Stallcup has style and knows how to please a shopper. If you look at her work it’s obvious from the first glance that she is talented and driven to make functional pieces that have her own edge to them. And one thing you must know about Stallcup is that she is obsessed with Elie Saab and she likes designs from back in the day.

Jewelry and clothing design by Amanda Stallcup.

“Even though my designs are nothing like his, I would wear him every day of my life,” she said. “I would just wear ball gowns all of the time. I really enjoy House of Harlow, accessories wise. I like 60’s anything. I like those designs of Sonny and Cher and that era.”

Be sure to check out Stallcup and the other Texas Tech apparel design and manufacturing students at the upcoming senior show.