I'm Kara.
Aspiring Fashion Designer & Entrepreneur

Born and raised in Wayne, NJ, I would always take trips to New York City with my family since it is in close proximity to our home. As a young girl in NYC, I loved going to see the Rockettes perform during the holiday season, visiting the American Girl Doll store, and overall just walking the city streets. I always felt so inspired whenever I was in NYC, like I could do anything I wanted and become anyone I strived to be. I knew from a young age that I was meant to live in a big city like NYC and do big things. I always had big aspirations for myself and want to live life to the fullest.

I grew up watching Project Runway and dreaming of becoming a fashion designer. I was extremely invested in art and jewelry making as a kid, but I never got involved in anything fashion or sewing related. My high school did not have a fashion program, and it was hard to find time for anything fashion related outside of school due to my busy schedule with dance, cheerleading, musical theater, and academics. However, I did not let this stop me from chasing my dreams. When I was applying to colleges, I selected my major as undecided but still ensured that the schools I was applying to had a fashion program. I was hesitant to apply as a fashion design major due to my lack of fashion related experience, but the University of Delaware welcomed me, and my solely art-based portfolio, into the fashion program with open arms. I knew UD would be the perfect fit for me because I was able to obtain both an education in fashion along with the ideal college experience. UD is truly where I was meant to be and I could not be more grateful that I ended up at this beautiful university.

Coming into the fashion design major with no prior experience was nowhere near easy. I constantly doubted myself during my first semester design courses because I felt extremely behind, like I should have been sewing my entire life as most of my classmates have. However, I did not let the people around me dictate my future. I put up a hard fight to catch up on the basic skills, and I look back at my progress and how far I’ve come since freshman year with a great deal of pride. My story demonstrates that you can do anything you put your mind to. It is never too late to learn a new skill and chase after your dreams.

As a recent graduate from the University of Delaware, I plan on working to build my own fashion brand and selling some of my work online. At the same time, I will be looking for opportunities for entry-level fashion jobs in New York City and California. Since I have been involved with performing arts throughout my life, I am most interested in pursuing a career in costume design. As a performer who craves being on stage, taking myself out of the spotlight and working behind the scenes of the magic that brings a show to life would be a perfect way to bring two of my greatest passions together. I hope to move to NYC or L.A. in the next couple of years as I follow my lifelong dream of becoming a fashion designer!