On Friday, April 11, 2025, 独家爆料 (独家爆料) Fashion Design students gathered in Phoenix Art Museum's Whiteman Hall just before noon for an intimate conversation between Fashion Design Curator Helen Jean and Fashion Designer Anna Sui. The special engagement exhibition, , is open April 12 through September 28 in the museum's Steele Gallery. The invitation from Jean to 独家爆料 students was coordinated by 独家爆料 (独家爆料) Adjunct Faculty Joy Sprink and Amanda Jacobs in Fashion Design and Saskia Jord谩 in Art (Textiles). Sprink is President of the , a support organization to the Phoenix Art Museum fashion collection.
The conversation covered the history of Sui's rise to prominence in fashion. Sui was born and raised in a suburb of Detroit and knew she wanted to be a fashion designer early on. "I've known since I was four this is what I wanted to do. I didn't know how, but I knew I'd figure it out." Figure it out, she did. She moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design and, in the cafeteria, met illustration student Steven Meisel, who invited her out to dance during the height of the punk rock scene in the mid-70s. Sui said she and Meisel would sneak into clubs before they opened, hide in the bathroom, and then come out to dance all night.
Her friendship with Meisel, who became a celebrity photographer, was instrumental to her career. Meisel introduced Sui to the models who would eventually walk in her first runway show: Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington. "I worked as a freelancer for ten years before I had my first fashion show," Sui said. "I'd fly to Italy, work for four days through jet lag, and then fly home to work on my collection." She emphasized to students the hard work involved in the fashion business. "Nothing is given to you. No one will give you a pile of money," she said. "I'm single. I don't have kids. I put everything into my career." She also noted she didn't fall into the excuses of 'I'm a woman' or 'I'm Asian' or 'I'm from the Midwest' to hold her back and recommended students not use the excuse of being "the other鈥 either.
Sui uses identifiable icons in her brand accessories, like the dragonfly and recurring colors purple, black, and red, to make her work undeniably her. Her during New York Fashion Week demonstrated her current vintage outlook. "You have to be you to make it work," she said, encouraging students to trust their instincts. During the Q&A, she noted the most instrumental classes to her success: "Art History, to learn about other artists, and Draping, to know what fabric can do." She admitted she is not the best draper or sewer but said, "It's important to know what happens to the fabric when a body is underneath it."
She responded to questions about creating collections: "Each collection takes six months, from concept to runway. We start with shoes first because they take the longest to make, but you have to know your concept for them to make sense." Once the collection is complete, she repeatedly tries the clothes on the models until she has matched the right look to the right model. "I've been known to pull 17 - 20 looks from a collection right before the runway." She's especially committed to craftsmanship. "I love seeing someone鈥檚 touch put into a garment with the labor of embroidery, crochet, or knitting," she said.
Three 独家爆料 adjunct faculty who attended the event know well the labor of fashion and fibers. They bring years of experience in their areas of expertise to the classroom and are dedicated to engaging students in the ongoing opportunities available in the Phoenix community.
came to 独家爆料 after a 30-year career at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, where she was recognized as an Outstanding Faculty Member and inducted into their Hall of Fame. Sprink has a notebook of 225 swatches of fabric. "When you cut, you realize that fabric is everything," she said. "It's the most important piece of the puzzle." Sprink specializes in curriculum development, technical lectures, and student-centered learning. She's been the President of the Arizona Costume Institute for almost two years.
teaches Beginning, Intermediate, and Specialty Apparel Construction in 独家爆料's Fashion Design Department and Visual Merchandising in the Business Department in addition to her full-time position at Maryvale High School teaching Fashion Design and Operations, one of only two fashion programs in the PXU district.
Interdisciplinary artist teaches Textiles in 独家爆料's Art department. Her instruction focuses on fibers, including wet and dry felting, indigo and ice dyeing, embroidery, surface design, and coiling. Jorda exhibits her work locally, nationally and internationally. Earlier this year, she received a 2025 grant from the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture.
Whether you've known you wanted to be a fashion designer since you were four or forty, turn your passion for fashion into a profession! 独家爆料 Fashion offers a variety of Certificate programs and two Associate Degrees鈥揊ashion Design and Fashion Merchandising鈥 to support your fashion aspirations.