Brik Allen was a 16-year-old American Eagle employee when he discovered his passion for dressing up and mixing and matching.
Surrounded by the clothing racks, he imagined creating his own items and made it his goal to learn how to sew. He began sketching, and once he got to college, he enrolled in LSU’s textiles apparel, design and merchandising program. It was there that Allen says he discovered his design style: eclectic with unique patterns, silhouettes and textures.
Only three years after graduating, Allen achieved a dream of many fashion designers: He got to show off his skills last fall during season 15 of Project Runway, where he stayed alive in the competition all the way to the seventh episode. He describes the reality show experience as more fast-paced than it even looks on TV. But he says he’s proud of staying away from the catty drama reality shows tend to create and instead focusing on the design.
While Allen’s television run is over for now, the accolades keep coming. In November, New Orleans Fashion Week awarded Allen with the Emerging Designer award at its 2016’s Fashion Gala Awards. He also received the Top Design Competition Award and Yelp People’s Choice award at last March’s New Orleans Fashion Week. He will be back this upcoming March, showcasing his work as a featured designer. instagram.com/hausofbrik
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On how LSU’s textiles, apparel design and merchandising program strengthened his work:
“It definitely tackled the technical aspects of design. We had sketching classes, we learned about fabrics and basic construction of garments, so it was a good base.”
On the target market he designs for:
“Artsy people or tech-y. I’m kind of into that realm of self expression that is on its own. People who walk down their own path.”
On his Project Runway experience:
“All along the process of being on the show, it made me question everything about what I’m about, what keeps me going as a designer. It really helped me form my point of view even further. On top of that, it pushed me to work very quickly, which is something that I never did before. I’ve always spent at least a week working on a piece, so to be pushed to make things on such a tight deadline also I think brought about a sort of purity to my work.”
HOW TO:
Create a garment from start to finish
1. Sketch. Draw out the idea you have in mind first, Allen says.
2. Find the fabric that fits the look.
3. Draw the pattern and drape the fabric on the dress form.
4. Cut out the pattern. This step is time-consuming because you have to get every line just perfect.
5. Sew the garment together.
This article was originally published in the January 2017 issue of 225 Magazine.
