Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

A life of style and substance

An IB grad hones her creative talents in San Francisco and anticipates an inventive career.

By MARY JANE PARK
Published June 3, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - For her graduation fashion show at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Ven Lai took her inspiration from Japanese animation genius Hayao Miyazaki.

Using bright colors and what she calls superfluous shapes, the 22-year-old from St. Petersburg created both vibrant-colored textiles and flowing fashion designs.

Lai said she is energized by the magical realism of Miyazaki, who won a 2001 Oscar for his animated film Spirited Away.

"It was very innocent and sweet, " she said. "That's what really inspired me."

A press release describing her prints says they focus on "an abundance of overgrown flora and unconventional execution of flight."

Lai earned a double major in fashion design and textile design at the academy and took second place in a national design competition sponsored by Target.

In July, she will move to Detroit as associate creative designer for General Motors.

What does that mean exactly?

Lai said she will coordinate fabric colors and textures that match the exterior palettes for motor vehicles in a way that complements the design of the car.

She doesn't foresee using mustard yellow for the interior of a stately silver Buick sedan, for example, or pink for the exterior. A sports car might well use a brighter color and thus a more vibrant interior.

For her show in San Francisco, she used fabrics donated to her from Banana Republic and Old Navy, which sent "yards and yards" of cotton and silk-washed cotton from their mills in Japan, Singapore, Korea and Hong Kong, all delivered by DHL and FedEx.

"I would get boxes and boxes of fabric, " she said. "And thread, and buttons. They were just incredibly gorgeous."

Lai, a graduate of the International Baccalaureate program at St. Petersburg High School, attended Sawgrass Lake Elementary and Seminole Middle schools. Soon, she will be in town to visit her parents, Thanh Lai and Anh Vo, and her sister, Haily Lai, who attends the University of Florida. Brother Toan Lai lives in Nebraska.

Once Ven Lai is in Detroit, she said, "I want to keep updating myself and challenging myself. I like to keep busy. I like keeping busy all the time."

In addition to the car interiors, she hopes to continue creating fashions.

[Last modified June 2, 2007, 20:42:06]