Josephine Garcia
The Art Institute of New York City
Fashion Design

Josie was born in New York, but raised in the Dominican Republic where both of her grandmothers nurtured her interest in fashion.

Josie began her college career studying business, a field she enjoyed. But once she visited The Art Institute of New York City and toured the Fashion Design department, she realized that she always wanted to be part of the fashion world. She was eager to learn everything she saw other students doing, and enrolled in school that day.

“I had no portfolio – just a passion. This school worked with me to learn the skills I needed. The teachers will work with you more than they need to if you show them you really are passionate about what you’re doing.” One instructor, Mary Gottlieb, came in on a Saturday to give Josie and two other students special help. “It made me feel very special, and I’ve never forgotten it,” said Josie.

Before it was required, Josephine asked Regina Pokidaylo, her Career Service Advisor, to help her find an internship. Regina helped her secure an internship in a showroom, where after three months she was hired as an assistant. Between this and another internship, Josie gained experience in making sales, handling accounts, visiting factories, controlling inventory, making patterns, and sourcing fabrics. Currently, she is in her “official” internship at Luca Luca.

Josie is in the process of creating her final collection, a graduation requirement. She is designing, making the patterns, and sewing each garment in the collection.

Expectations were always high in her family, and yet Josie has always done more than was expected of her. It seems likely that this successful pattern will continue.

Bonnie Geronimo
The Art Institute of New York City
Fashion Design graduate 2006

Assistant Designer

Inspiration
'My influence and inspiration is my grandmother. She was a seamstress for many years, but never got to expand and live her dreams. I want to live that dream for her.'

Memories
'At The Art Institute of New York City, Monica Spence was a genuinely special person who, from the first day in class, inspired me to continue with whatever it was I wanted. She taught me to focus, because dreams do come true.'

Current Position
'At my job as Assistant Designer at Francis Hendy, Inc. I touch on every aspect of fashion; patterns, flat sketching and clothing construction.'

Personal Quote
'My long term aspiration is to continue doing what I live for – fashion. Loving what you do is the greatest gift and passion one can have.'

Willie Hall
The Art Institute of New York City
AOS Fashion Design Graduate 2005

Freelance Designer
Formerly part time assistant to Andre Van Pier,
Fashion Designer to A-List stars (Liz Taylor, Diana Ross, Madonna)

Inspiration
'My father was a hard working man who said to do whatever makes you happy. I went back to school to study fashion, and I’m so pleased with that decision.'

History
Willie attended a fashion vocational high school. After a detour into another field, she knew it was time to follow her heart. She was so successful as an Olympus Fashion Week volunteer, she was asked to volunteer at Fashion Week in Los Angeles.

Memories
'I loved all my instructors—they were great and talented individuals who showed love for their students.'

Personal Quote
'I love fabric and fashion and the joy of watching people wear what I have created. My life has changed so much since I left school, it’s greater than great. I hope I have a lot more years to do what makes me happy.'

Lillian Kutzuba
The Art Institute of New York City
Fashion Design graduate 2006

Pre-production Assistant

Career Path
'My career was a chance happening. Before my current job, I had worked in restaurants without even thinking about having a career job. I got this job through a friend who thought I was the right person for the opening.'

Describe Your Duties
'My company mainly works in leather. I create technical sketches & flats, work with shipments to overseas factories, help fit garments and correct the fit if necessary, email buyers.'

Personal Quote
'My education at The Art Institute of New York City taught me that not everything in life will be easy or fit my view of the world, but change can be for the better. Once you look at all the angles, views and options, you realize that life inside the box can be just as nice as outside it.'

Vikki Nulman
The Art Institute of New York City
Fashion Design

Talent Extraordinaire!

Vikki Nulman is so proud of her school she wants the world to know about it.  She is single-handedly doing her part to make that happen.

Her latest spectacular accomplishment is winning a contest to design an African-inspired couture gown in a competition open to all designers sponsored by the United Nations club of a college in New York City.

There were 30 design entries submitted, from which 16 were chosen to be produced for the runway.  Vikki’s creativity and hard work were rewarded – the five judge panel awarded her two of the “Spirit of Africa” awards, the first prize for overall best African design, as well as the coveted People’s Choice award. Her gown also garnered the highest bid in the auction after the competition, with proceeds going to philanthropic efforts to help end malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The inspiration for the dress was African sunsets.  “The colors were what inspired me – blues and yellows.  I found lace that looked like the water lilies that I had seen in sunset photos.  The lace is African-made, and when my model walks, the coat billows as if the wind is blowing those beautiful blues and yellows at the end of the day.” 

Vikki chose her own model, took measurements, made the dress in muslin, finally creating the prize-winning finished product and the head wrap.

Prior to this effort, Vikki was instrumental in the creation of the Fashion Installation centering around Alice in Wonderland that was the hit of the school in the early spring, remaining in the gallery for about a month.  20 students actively participated in the project which was visually directed by Alex Snyder, and visually assisted by Vikki and Dan Douglas, all Fashion Design students at The Art Institute of New York City. The installation is the most ambitious show to appear in the school’s gallery, and “represents a journey through the technical side of fashion,” according to Alex.

Another notable effort was the Cool vs. Cruel competition, where only cruelty-free fabrics can be used. Vikki had only been in school for a month, but she entered the competition and took second place!

Vikki is currently in her fourth quarter.  Although she takes five classes, she commutes back and forth to Arizona, her primary home.  But wait, there’s more -- she is also a Cordon Bleu-trained Executive Chef, who currently travels around the country serving as a judge for culinary events!

She still loves the culinary field, but her heart is now in Fashion.  She would like to see her current venture, airbrushing on fabric, grow into a business after she graduates.

After the Africa competition she was approached by a company who would like her to design their uniforms, but currently, she is immersed in designing her collection for the annual Graduate Fashion Show.

Vikki chose The Art Institute of New York City because she felt comfortable and at home right away.  The choice, she says, came from the heart.  “I get great respect from all the instructors, and have learned something from each of them.”

About the African Couture competition she says, “There were many other schools represented, but it makes me happy to have won for our school and have it recognized.  I would like to help The Art Institute of New York City get better known.  There’s a lot of talent coming out of the school that has yet to be recognized.”