Written By: Nia Harrison

Photos By: Nia Harrison

Designer: Emma Wiltfong

Despite Missouri State’s fashion design department currently going digital, one senior designer decided to still take the traditional route. Seniors are no longer required to sew a collection for showcase, but Emma Wiltfong came to MSU intending to make a physical collection. So they were going to do just that. 

“I've been looking forward to it my entire time here and then all of a sudden we weren't gonna have it anymore. But I said, ‘I'm just gonna do it anyways. I'll make the time,” Wiltfong expressed. 

The Orange Juice collection is inspired by ’60s and ‘70s fashion and silhouettes. Emma describes this collection as “vibrant, funky, and fun” as it incorporates a lot of color, texture, and pattern mixing. 

But the inspiration doesn’t stop there– the main squeeze of this collection is influenced by dopamine dressing. 

“The idea behind it is dressing for yourself, finding your personal style, and what makes you happy instead of going with trends,” they explained.

Although it took them no time to come up with an idea, the collection itself took about a year of preparation and design.

“It [Orange Juice Collection] was one of the first ideas I had for my collection. Last summer is when I started focusing on what I wanted to make. In the beginning, I wanted it to have a structural element to it. Then I ended up moving away from that, but I wanted to keep the drama. So it became what my final look is now, which is a big aline dress with a lot of texture and all my scraps sewn to it. After that, I was on a roll, and the rest of it just kind of came out of that.”

However, the execution process is never as easy as coming up with the idea, and with most good collections there is some trial and error.

“...This semester I wanted to focus on a lot of the drafting, sewing, and construction. And it didn't exactly work out on the timeline that I wanted,” they said. “But you know, you just gotta make it work”

With trial and error, there are also special moments along the way. Wiltfong proves that making it work is the attitude to have because everything pays off in the end.

“I did a video shoot of my collection a few weeks ago to show at the senior showcase. It was really rewarding to just see all the looks finally, like, on models together and it just looked like a collection.”

To future designers, Wiltfong advises designers to take risks and not hold themselves back from the things they want to accomplish.

“If you have like a goal and you have a vision for it, just go for it. It'll be worth it in the end.”

To keep up with Emma and their next steps, you can follow them on Instagram @jam.jar.clothing and on their website, https://egwiltfong.wixsite.com/jamjarclothing!