Natalie Painting colorful pastel swirls and playful prints onto clear plastic fabric is not how most people might imagine their college thesis project.
For Natalie, this particular venture grew out of a desire to present a 1960’s ‘Sweet Tooth’ themed runway exhibit for her final senior project.
Walking down the runway to the 1969 pop hit ‘‘Sugar Sugar,’’ her four models sported hand painted vinyl raincoats and pop art patterned mini skirts, with lollipops and cotton candy in hand.
Before college and sewing projects, Natalie was a young girl with a flair for art and creativity. Teaching herself to sew by making clothes for her dolls, it was not long before she was taking art classes in the summer and sketching as a hobby.
By high school, Natalie had developed an individual style. She was accepted into the Honors Art program and embraced unique ways of creating art through collages, charcoal, charcoal sketches, and painting.
After enrolling into the Marist College Fashion Program, Natalie put her art background to use. Never having used a sewing machine before, she quickly had to master different stitch techniques and pattern work. It was often challenging to balance hour long fashion classes along with the required curriculum classes.
Having two internships during college prepared Natalie for a hands-on approach to the fashion industry. While interacting with people in various areas of the industry, Natalie gained an appreciation and idea for the countless hours that go into building the final product.
After graduating from Marist College, with a bachelor of professional studies and a minor in French, Natalie began to look for work in the fashion industry. Any free time was spent making clothing, jewelry, and accessories. She sold her designs to local boutiques and participated in several fashion shows to gain experience and network.
Natalie continues to design and sew her own clothing and accessories under her brand Natalie Marie designs, while working a full time job doing technical design. With more experience and knowledge, she has developed a more sophisticated, yet eclectic look. Each piece is hand crafted and detailed using paint, dye, hand embroidery, and beading. Her customers appreciate these timeless and unique pieces, which can be attributed to Natalie’s artistic and personal approach to fashion.
For more information, the designer can be contacted at:
Natalie