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CofC grad and CFW Emerging Designer alum Carol Hannah Whitfield reflects on personal style, her time on Project Runway, and what inspires her the most WRITTEN BY Ayoka Lucas Carol Hannah Whitfield, a College of Charleston graduate, is the self-taught designer who blazed a trail from earning a show in Charleston Fashion Week’s Emerging Design Competition in 2008 to capturing the spotlight as a finalist on season six of Project Runway. With her keen eye for detail and elegant take on the juxtaposition of structure and fluid draping, she remains “one-to-watch” amongst fashion’s emerging talent. On March 20, Carol Hannah will unveil her new bridal collection during the Bridal Couture Show at Charleston Fashion Week. Here, she reflects on who she is as a designer in our fashion fill-in-the-blank: I started designing when I was seven. I would describe my personal style as feminine, colorful, and a little sassy. My top two favorite items in my closet are the super warm cashmere coat I made for the NYC winter and all my dresses! The thing that most motivates me to design is an inner drive to create that I can’t turn off. In my opinion, the thing that makes a great designer is not worrying about what other people think and not being afraid to take a risk. My favorite fabric to work with is silk chiffon. When I think about style, I think about how people wear things rather than what they are wearing. The one thing I wish I could change about the fashion industry is the pettiness or judgmental attitudes sometimes involved. The first thing I do when I approach designing a collection is turn on some good music! My favorite memory from Charleston Fashion Week and the Emerging Design Competition is the moment before the first model walked out. Glamour is sparkle, texture, and drape. My biggest challenge as a designer is learning how to take a break. My dream red-carpet client to style/design for is Zooey Deschanel. The most important detail when designing a bridal collection is all of them! You can’t compromise on anything. Most people don’t know that, in addition to designing, I also love to read, run, and ride my bike. If I were to make a mix tape for someone, it would include a lot of songs by Lily Allen. My most recognizable quote from Project Runway is probably funny noises rather than anything I actually said. With my new Wedding Collection showing at Charleston Fashion Week, I am most excited about finally sharing it and playing dress up at the trunk show at Maddison Row on the 21st.
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