On March 8, staff from The Lexington Line, LIM’s student-run fashion and lifestyle magazine, invited students to watch an interview with fashion designer and Project Runway All Stars winner Mondo Guerra.
The interview was conducted by Editor-in-Chief Emily White along with Production Director Raquael Hines and Fashion Editor Katie Schroeder. Guerra answered questions about how he started in the fashion industry, how to stay creative, and what inspires him to keep going.
“Creativity has so many different faces… and it’s just about how do you accept your creative self?” Guerra said.
He mentioned how one of the most important aspects of staying creative is making sure you’re surrounded by a strong support system.
“You need people you can trust and who will give you constructive criticism,” he noted.
Guerra recounted the time when he first started designing clothes and barely had enough money to purchase materials, so he encouraged students to plan accordingly.
“Save your money, because at some point you are going to have to invest in yourself,” he advised.
Guerra also spoke passionately about the importance of reaching out for help when you need it, stating that social media can facilitate vital connections.
“There are so many people out there who you admire that you can reach out to for help, whether it is for a conversation or advice,” he said. “That is the number one lesson I have learned in life. I still ask for help!”
When asked about how to stand out in the age of social media, Guerra counseled students to stay true to themselves and to apply their life experience to their work.
“I think it's so important to apply your life experience to your creative endeavors because it will improve them, and it will make you really happy that you are revisiting things that made you happy in your past.”
