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Fashion Week Q&A with Sebastian Cubides

Sebastian Cubides is participating in his second New York Fashion Week runway show. In 2015, he presented the collection “Architectural,” inspired by renderings of a research lab in the Ukraine and a commercial center in China. This year’s collection is inspired by getting away from it all and finding peace in the forest.

Sebastian understands the value of learning from the ground up. He’s volunteered at fashion shows for Oscar de la Renta, Roberto Cavalli, Carolina Herrera, Perry Ellis, and at Funkshion Fashion Week. He also designed a 20 piece collection for The Pasarela Punta del Este in Uruguay.

Sebastian was born in Manchester, New Hampshire and grew up in Miami, Florida where he’s a current student pursing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design at Miami International University of Art & Design.

What inspired this year’s collection?

I was very inspired by the idea of people who enjoy spending time away from the hustle and bustle of the big city—[people who] spend time in the forest. That idea brought to mind the idea of a sleeker version of cargo wear that could be used in the city, as well as the countryside.

This is your second time at New York Fashion Week. How did last year’s experience impact your current design?

Last year’s collection really helped me to realize that I wanted to explore designing outerwear. I realized I had a weird obsession with patch pockets and a fixation on cargo wear. [Combining these] elements was a challenge, but the theme I chose helped to make it all come together in my mind.

How did your Fashion Design education help you to prepare the collection?

At Miami International University of Art & Deisgn, we have yearly fashion shows. If we want our designs to be in the shows, we must comply with the strict deadlines. [This is also] how it is at the New York Fashion Week show.

What’s a typical day like as you prepare for the runway?

[Each day] I make a list of what I need to [complete] in order to made the following day more productive. I do take breaks to eat, and I make sure to give myself ample time to sleep [as well as] enough time to catch up on homework assignments.

What would you tell current fashion students?

It’s important to do your research and make sure you keep current with every season. Take the time to really research and try to learn new techniques outside of school. Better yourself as much as you can.

Which designers, blogs, or publications inspire you?

I am inspired by Yohji Yamamoto, Alber Elbaz, and Alexander McQueen. I follow many blogs and read many publications, but my favorites are: Vogue Italia, W Magazine, CR Fashion Book, and Haute Blogging.

Watch the live broadcast here!

Check out the other designers participating in Fashion Week

View Sebastian’s sketches and inspiration board by clicking on the thumbnails

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