MODA Designer Profile: Arjun Kilaru
Meet Arjun! A first year designer from California designing his first collection for MODA . He’s also stylist for the MODA Magazine and a team lead and producer for the University of Chicago Public Policy Podcasts. His hobbies include fantasy football and fantasy football. He’s Currently thinking of an Econ/Stat double major and interested in applying that to the fashion sphere after graduation.
“But I have time, so who knows.“ -Arjun.
What are some sources of inspiration for your collection?
Lake Como. I visited the place recently and I immediately knew the place would inspire me to create something special. I want to preserve the floral scenery and concepts of freedom and unjudged expression, as well as the modern and subversive undertones I found there. It’s really beautiful. I wanted to combine that with the contemporary movement to destabilize gender norms and include elements of androgyny and the feminine/masculine dichotomy in my work as well.
Arjun’s Mood Board
Have you ever done fashion design work before? What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process?
Before this process, I hadn’t really done much design work that truly materialized. However, I come from a family where garment creation and fashion design goes back generations. My mom, grandma, and great-grandma have all passed down knowledge of their work in the tailoring and fashion industry, so I had a great support system through the whole process. The most challenging part of the process was working with patience through various mistakes and roadblocks. I made more trips to the fabric store than I ever intended to, and I had to be okay with that. With that being said, finishing my first piece and being proud of my work made all the hours I put in worth it
What’s your favorite aspect of the design process?
Definitely the relationships I built with the other designers, models, and everyone in MODA. Being a first year I was nervous about my place in this process / organization and whether I would meet the bar. Needless to say, everyone was amazingly supportive and helpful and I couldn’t have asked for a better family to help bring the best out in me. The fabric store trips, model calls and rehearsals, and hours spent sewing and designing with my friends were definitely my favorite aspects.
“You can get away with so many mistakes in the name of artistic expression. ”
What are you looking forward to most about the show?
Definitely experiencing my first collection with my friends. So many people have helped me bring this to life, and I can’t wait for them to all see our hard work materialize. I’m really proud of my models especially for putting in work at the rehearsals and on their own time. I can’t wait to see them kill it on the runway.
Who do you have in mind when you’re designing?
Arjun’s muse. Image via
Jaden Smith pulling up to the MET Gala in a Louis Vuitton suit holding his chopped up dreadlocks and blasting his own music via portable speaker.
If you could give yourself any advice on the design process, what would you say to your younger self?
You can get away with so many mistakes in the name of artistic expression.
Cover Photo via Elliot Duprey
