Designer Profile 2023: Alessandra Tufino
On a gloomy Tuesday night, by a stair-side bench in the Reynold’s club, I got the privilege to speak with fourth-year, returning designer Alessandra Tufino to speak about her final MODA Show collection. In honor of her final year as an undergrad, Tufino embraced change and transition-ship in her latest collection. She describes it best: life’s rose-colored glasses are slowly being removed – you’re really on your own for the first time. Dive in to the world of Tufino’s latest creation…
The Designer…
“Celebrating both the end and the start of something”
As a designer, it’s an organized chaos type of situation. I have a schedule and time frame but getting to that path is kind of chaotic. Whether it be through my own actions or uncontrollable factors. There was one time Amazon just didn’t ship my stuff in time — so, I literally didn’t have any needles once. Besides that, I’m usually always doing stuff. It’s not like I have a dedicated spreadsheet or calendar (but yes, doing stuff).
I don’t necessarily gravitate towards avante-garde art-as-fashion pieces, but I’ve always loved the look of an evening gown. So if I were to describe my design ethos, it would definitely be over-the-top, not necessarily MET Gala, but definitely something floor-length. I guess, I would say, a little extra.
The Concept…
In comparison to the last collection, this one is comparatively more conceptual — grounded by a feeling. The genesis of the project was angst. I had this idea of leaning into the visual hues of a funeral procession and then pairing that contemplative aesthetic with the metaphorical grieving of one’s childhood—one’s innocence. It just feels like life’s rose-colored glasses are being slowly removed as I approach my final quarters as a college student – like, you’re really on your own for the first time.
Tufino’s Moodboard
But moving away from the raw unfiltered angst of facing life, I found the concept of “the funeral” to also symbolize rebirth, a new life. The end of college is but the start of what comes after. At first, this project was just I’m an angsty person and this is what my brain is thinking about, but it gradually evolved – along with my mindset — away from this intense emotion.
I’m 21 years old now, and I’m going to be 22 when this collection comes out. This clearly isn’t it, there’s so much more to life to come. I feel like life pre-college-graduation is such a time of celebration and people frame it as a that’s it. But there’s so much more celebration to come—so much more to experience. I think that this collection is an extension of my own evolving state of mind.
The Craft …
This project is definitely an ambitious one for me. I am making something that has sleeves for the first time — something I still find intimidating. I am also working with lace for the first time — sewing with lace is still something new and something I had to adjust to. But I’ve carried in some important technical lessons from my previous work as well. I’m reintroducing some familiar patterns — patterns that are so versatile and yet so eye-catching.
I definitely would like the audience to look out for the details. Although it’s a classic silhouette and aesthetic, there are details in each garment that make them more unique. Even from a textural standpoint, one is burnout velvet and the other is lace. I wanted to go for something that’s simple upon first glance, but more intricate upon the second.
