Meet Chloe Corso

We were lucky to catch up with Chloe Corso recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Chloe with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I credit much of my work ethic to my parents. I feel so grateful to have two parents who have instilled such valuable qualities in me. My mother is a full-time artist and has been my entire life. She works from home, so I grew up watching her clock in and out of our own home, which is not easy to do when you have kids and dogs running around. She has so much discipline when it comes to her job. I always admired her ability to focus on a project whole-heartedly and work at it till it’s complete. As for my father, he is business forward and extremely resilient. I have watched him build a successful business from nothing, navigate pivoting career paths later in life, and hunt for growth opportunities. He is not afraid to open himself up to new fields and learn about the unfamiliar. Additionally, my peers and professors inspire me to give each project my all. In school, I am surrounded by talented individuals who remind me each day why I have chosen the path I have. We encourage and push each other to produce at a high standard, challenge ourselves to try new things, and problem solve along the way.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am currently in my senior year of studying Fashion Design at Savannah College of Art and Design. I have been working on my senior thesis collection since the fall and will complete it in the spring. My collection, titled ‘Man & the Machine’, is inspired by the evolving relationship between humans and technology, with a focus on the industrial revolution as a turning point for workers in comparison to the digital and robotic revolution we are navigating through today. This concept manifests as an avant-garde mens and womenswear collection rooted in workwear. Combining function with dramatic silhouettes, the designs range from more traditional to machine infused with geometric style lines and dimension. It features mechanical quilting, magnetic nut and bolt-like closures, and an original Vorticist-inspired print.
My passion for design stems from a love of technical construction. I absolutely love the process of translating a 2d sketch into 3d form. Design is truly a battle of trial and error and constant problem-solving but is so rewarding when accomplished. On the other hand, I deeply enjoy the process of research and exploration behind building a concept. There is a fun challenge in finding inspiration from things totally unrelated to clothing and finding a way to reinterpret the ideas into garments. Overall, clothing is something people interact with every single day. Quality design can change the way a person feels about and carries themselves. Personally, I know I will have a better day if I’m wearing an outfit, I feel confident and comfortable in. Design is also about questioning everything- fit, proportion, function, context, color, and all things in between. Fashion is equally about storytelling, there is purpose behind each piece to help tell the story the designer is narrating.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I am just at the start of my journey as a designer and have lots more to learn, however my time in school has already taught me countless skills, both technical and intrinsic. Three that I will take with me everywhere I go to are, 1-relationship building 2-self-trust and 3-resilience.
No matter the industry, fostering genuine relationships with the people around oneself is vital to success. As an underclassman, I kept my head down and focused on my own work because I viewed my peers as competition and felt inferior. Within the past year I have become close with most seniors in my department from working late nights in the studio and watching each other laugh, cry, fail, and succeed. Though we are all working on our individual collections, we support each other, ask questions, and help one another problem solve. Generosity goes a long way and helping others can help both the giver and receiver walk away with more knowledge than before. I am a big believer that people make your experiences. I can honestly say that I have built bonds that will outlast graduation and am excited to see where life takes each of my peers.
Additionally, self-trust is a necessary skill when it comes to being in a creative field. Art and design are subjective which can be difficult for a type A personality like me to grasp. I am learning to trust my gut, avoid overthinking, and abandon my previous “right versus wrong” mentality. As a designer, I also must be able to stand with my work and defend it which means believing in it. My professors often rhetorically ask, “If you don’t believe in your work why would anyone else?”.
Lastly, resilience and drive go hand in hand. As I stated before, design is about problem solving- when I reach the making stage, I expect to fail at least three times before I succeed. Resilience is not a fixed quality, it is one that requires practice and self-reminding. I would be lying if I said I’ve mastered this skill. I get frustrated and stuck. It’s part of the process, but my drive to continue to work despite these feelings is what has gotten me this far. A trick I use when I’m in a low spot is to tell myself the feeling is temporary. I reflect on not only my past accomplishments, but also the obstacles I overcame to get there. The fashion industry is extremely fast paced with no time for stagnation, the only option is to learn from shortcomings and continue to move forward. I am slowly shifting my perspective on “failures” as steppingstones to success.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

I am learning to appreciate the journey and not just the destination. Building a collection is grueling work. I have sacrificed sleep, hobbies, and even relationships to give every ounce of energy to the opportunities that have come my way. I recognize the way I am currently working is not sustainable, but necessary for the time being. Hard work is important, but so is balance. Allowing myself to take a step back and reflect on the process helps me comprehend the work I have done and the people to have helped me along the way. As incredible as it feels to reach a milestone, the moment is fleeting while the journey there is much more telling of who I am as a designer.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photographers: Lily Meyers, Devon Vereen, Ryan Hughes

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