Buffalo Culture Capsule
The Ask
The primary objective was to select a specific location and a compatible brand to create a collaborative fashion collection. This required extensive cultural research to develop original icons, color palettes, and textile patterns that seamlessly integrated the identity of the chosen city with the brand's aesthetic. The final goal was to apply these designs to a range of technical flats acting as a line sheet to then present.
Skills Used
Trend & Cultural Research
Digital Illustration
Graphic Design
Technical Design
Merchandising & Product Development
Research & Moodboard
Context/Moodboard
The process began with a deep dive into Buffalo’s heritage, ranging from its industrial wheat history to its local legends. I researched the city's status as a former grain milling powerhouse, symbolized by the "Wheat" motifs, and integrated cultural icons like the Maid of the Mist from Niagara Falls and the fervent sports culture surrounding the Buffalo Bills
I used Adobe Photoshop to compile these diverse elements, snowy landscapes, industrial architecture, and sports imagery into a cohesive moodboard that captured the "Good Neighbor" spirit of the city.
Icons/Colors
After identifying which portions of the moodboard most strongly represented Buffalo, I moved into Adobe Illustrator to vectorize specific icons. These included stylized buffalo heads, geometric wheat patterns, and regional symbols.
Color Palette: The colors were sampled directly from the moodboard to ensure authenticity. This resulted in signature colorways like Marina Shark Girl Blue, Lake Erie Sunset, and Buffalo Plaid.
Pattern Creation
Translating these icons into repeatable textile patterns was the most challenging stage of the project. These patterns define the visual identity of the garments. I experimented with scale and symmetry to create the motifs seen on the Winter Evening Dresses and Warm Long Sleeves, ensuring the "Buffalo" identity was recognizable yet high-fashion.
Brand Research: Why Earthbound?
I chose to collaborate with Earthbound Trading Co. because of their focus on unique, travel-inspired apparel that resonates with a "free-spirited" aesthetic. My research focused on how Earthbound’s bohemian DNA could be adapted into a more structured, cold-weather capsule while maintaining their signature eclectic feel.
Technical Design & Flats
Drawing from my own family roots in Buffalo, I designed this collection with a "fashionable cousin" in mind, someone who needs to stay warm during lake-effect snow but refuses to sacrifice style.
Design Focus: The flats feature high-neck silhouettes, cut-out details, and fur linings.
Materials: To meet the demands of the weather, I specified a mix of 70% Recycled Fur, Wool linings, and Recycled Leather.
The Outcome
This project showed me how much I love taking my own creative direction and seeing a vision through from start to finish. I am especially happy with how the Women's Winter in Buffalo Fur Coat turned out, as it perfectly balances the "cool" look I wanted with the warmth needed for a New York winter. On a professional level, this was a very satisfying experience because it pushed me to learn much more advanced concepts in Photoshop and Illustrator to get the patterns and icons exactly right. Ultimately, I learned how to turn local history like Buffalo's wheat industry and folklore into a real fashionable clothing line.
