by Briana Applewhite ‘13

Senior Emily Kupersanin has an afterschool internship at DMV Fashion News & Events, where she can pursue her passion for fashion.

Breaking into the fashion industry can be one of the most terrifying things promising designers have to face, but senior Emily Kupersanin seems to have already achieved this task with ease. The talented and driven senior juggles a tedious school schedule and an internship at DMV Fashion News & Events in the afternoon. Students may have even seen her sporting some of her own designs. The Warrior sat down with Kupersanin to learn more about her endeavors.

Where is your internship? How many times a week do you work?

I am an intern at DMV Fashion News & Events. My internship is very different compared to many others’ internships. I don’t have a set schedule or a set place to go; everyday it varies. I sometimes have events over the weekend that I must attend or I have to do some research on the computer at home. A large part of my time is dedicated to emailing bands, boutiques, designers and venues.

Can you talk a bit about the company and your duties?

DMV Fashion News and Events is a new TV show starting in the DMV [DC, Maryland and Virginia] that basically promotes different artists, designers, boutiques, bands and venues that have made their mark either in DC, Maryland or Virginia. One of my main responsibilities is to find designers, boutiques and artists from the DMV to be featured on the show. My most recent mission was to find three bands and a couple of venues that are making their mark in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Another role that I have is to be on the TV show on a segment we like to call Fashion Guppies where the focus is on someone trying to get into the fashion industry as a young adult. I also have to attend events such as local fashion shows or boutique promotions. We also are trying to plan a launch party in spring of 2013 so I have had to try and gain sponsorships from many different companies as well as finding a venue to host the event.  In the coming months we hope to be able to attend New York’s fashion week as well as the fashion week in Miami.

Does your ideal career aspiration involve fashion? Which aspects of it and in what ways?

Fashion design has always been the ideal career choice for me since I was in fifth grade when I decided that I wanted to become a fashion designer. Since having that goal at such a young age I have tried to stay as close to the fashion industry as possible. I got my first job in ninth grade with a local store named Paula’s Boutique. The store later closed which led me to get my first internship with Designs by Nicole in eleventh grade. Now I am interning with DMV Fashion News & Events as well as working for the Enrichment Centers. My job is to go to schools, mostly in Bethesda, to teach fashion design to middle schoolers.

What motivated you to design your own clothes?

What inspired me to first start sewing was the curiosity of watching my mother fixing holes with quick stitches. The more I started sewing the bigger my projects got. It seemed almost natural to keep advancing from Barbie clothes to making my own clothes. Also there are many relatives from my mother’s side that tailored clothing in Peru.

Where do you channel your inspiration when making your own designs?

My inspirations are not very typical for a fashion lover. I love looking at anything from the universe especially nebulas, galaxies, black holes, stars, planets and space in general. I also seek my inspiration from different cultures, music, color, poetry and artists. But one of the main things that inspires me is people.

Where do you see yourself in the fashion world 10 years from now?

I hope to still be advancing towards my goal of owning my own brand. I would love to start a company that exports designs that I have created as well as sell them in my own boutique stores. But overall I wish to be happy with my career choice. Many seek fame from extravagant dreams such as mine, but I would simply love to be able to support myself following my passion. It’s truly about waking up each morning being happy with the work I have created and will create in the future.