Fia Curley

AAS Fashion Design

Title: Safe Structures

Updated: August 17th

One minute you think you know what you're going to do and then the entire world does a 180-degree turn and changes your plans, ideas, and options. My desire for clean lines, comfort, and timeless style collided with the realities of fear and fragility. With many locked inside their homes, I sought to create pieces aimed at the innate things we desire, such as stability, peace, warmth, and safety. The idea of the womb—our very first home—came to mind as we hunkered down away from neighbors, friends, and even family. My work uses natural materials as I seek to refine this idea of safety and connection amid disconnection and restriction, and translate it into wearable clothing that can serve as a comforting, beautiful layer for the body. 

Fia Curley transitioned from the world of Marketing and Communications to pursue the long-held dream of a career in fashion design. Although nothing was guaranteed, Fia took the leap and left the working world to pursue this dream—which required more hard work than all of her previous degrees combined—and finished just in time to see a pandemic, protests and seismic cultural shifts lead to historic moments and upend industries. Lessons learned: Never expect an election year to be normal ever again and never give up on your dreams. Ever the optimist, Fia still believes in the power of beauty and ultimately plans to blend fashion and tech, in order to help decrease waste and streamline processes that benefit everyone involved in the fashion ecosystem.