from my style 2 urs: Alicia Pinckney of Love Pinck

Alicia Pinckney, designer of LovePinck is just 21 and making her way in the fashion industry. I recently wore one of her designs, and knew right there and then I'd have to interview her.

When did you start designing?

I started designing when I was in middle school. My favorite fabric to work with was denim. I made everything out of denim and I constructed everything through hand sewing before I got my first sewing machine in 6th grade.

What inspired you to design?

I've always been interested in art in general. I was always known as the "artist" throughout elementary school. I used to draw things for my classmates and friends, and then I started drawing figures for my female friends and they would describe the type of outfit they wanted their figure to wear. From then my art focused more towards fashion art, or "fashion illustration". I took my illustrations and brought them to life by sewing.

Besides yourself who are some of your favorite designers?

I love Marchesa, Alexander McQueen and Theirry Mugler.

Did you attend school for designing or were you self taught?

I taught myself how to sew in elementary school. I took further sewing and fashion classes at Moore College of Art and Design while in high school and now I attend Philadelphia University as a Fashion Design major. I like to say that I was self taught, but school refined my skills.

What are your favorite retail stores, or sites?

My favorite retail stores are Urban Outfitters and thrift stores. I'm a picky shopper, I'm not really married to a handful of stores.

What is your favorite piece to design?

My favorite pieces to design are gowns. However, I have a fascination with menswear. I am working on a denim menswear collection for the fall. Stay tuned.

Where do you see yourself 5-10 years from now?

I don't have a specific game plan because you never know where your connections will lead you. I was blessed with the opportunity to intern in New York for the summer at Calvin Klein Jeans. I absolutely love working with denim, so to start off my career after graduating college in May 2013, I would love to work at a company that specializes in denim. I am also interested in doing my own thing, so I would love to continue custom orders and making myself know in the area. 5-10 years from now, I want to be settled in my career, have my own showroom of art and designs, hopefully I'll start to have children and make big moves in the art scene with my future husband who will be equally as ambitious and a lover of art as I am!