Each year, Fashion Design seniors create final thesis collections for Moore's annual Fashion Show. One student's looks are chosen to be featured in graphic assets that the Marketing & Communications department creates and uses to promote the event. This year's featured garment was designed by Alyssa Lucas '24 for her collection, titled Celestial Paths.
Read our Q&A with Lucas and buy your tickets for Moore's 2024 Fashion Show on Friday, May 10 at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.
Can you tell us who you are?
My name is Alyssa Lucas (she/her) and I'm a senior Fashion Design major. I was born in Baltimore, MD, but I've lived all over the United States.
One of the reasons I chose Moore was because I was in online school for all four years of high school. I really loved that small, intimate setting, where I could build relationships with my professors. When I saw that Moore had a similarly intimate setting, that really drew me in.
How did it feel to have your garment selected for Fashion Show promotional materials?
It felt really exciting! I was really honored to be chosen. We all work so hard, so when someone wants to use your work to represent a whole community of people, it feels really nice.
What was your favorite part about working on this design?
I think my favorite part was conceptualizing the design. I came up with a concept that's a blend of things I've been thinking about in my four years here. Putting it all together into a thesis that I'm really passionate about keeps me going. It really helps me enjoy my work and put my best foot forward, in terms of designing and creating it.
Celestial Paths is based off sky charts of impactful days throughout my life, whether it's my birthday or the day I graduate from Moore on Saturday, May 11.
What are you looking forward to after graduation? How did Moore prepare you to reach your goals?
I'm absolutely looking forward to starting in my field; it's going to be so exciting. I was honored to have the great opportunity to work with QVC for my internship, and working directly in my field fueled my fire.
The Fashion Design curriculum checks all the boxes. When I go into my field, I can say I'm multifaceted and I have knowledge in a little bit of everything. I feel like I know what I'm doing, I'm enjoying it and I'm ready to keep going.
What are some of your proudest accomplishments during your time at Moore?
Other than getting chosen for projects like this, one of my proudest accomplishments is being on the Dean's List since I first came to Moore. I was also very proud of how my junior thesis came together. We were given a theme called "A Beating Heart," which we each interpreted into a two-piece collection. It was so cool!
What is your advice to future Moore students and fellow designers?
Continue to push yourself, especially when things get hard or complicated. You really just have to see it through. Make sure you continue to have that drive, and it'll push you through any obstacle you may go through.
I was also raised in a really optimistic household. You want to look at the glass half-full and think about the good things that are happening that really motivate you. It may sound silly, but it helps make life happier and more peaceful.
Interested in learning more about the Fashion Design program at Moore? Contact our Admissions team at enroll@moore.edu or 215.965.4015 to set up a call or a campus visit. We'd love to tell you more!
Pictured: Garment design: Alyssa Lucas '24. Photo: Claudia Rubio '24. Graphic Design: Haley O'Neill '24 (lead designer) with Simone Grey '25. Model: Londyn Morris.
