Ambar Morgana Linares Egger

How has your experience been balancing traditional craftsmanship with new fashion technologies (digital tools, virtual fashion, etc.)?

Ever since the industrial revolution, the relationship between technology and craftsmanship has always been complicated, especially when it comes to fashion. I think there’s something magical about hand craft, and the sheer passion, heart and dedication put into beautiful and original ideas, and I find it is what makes a craft special and unique. I do find technology accelerates and facilitates the process, which is a good thing. However, it will never replace the sheer soul that goes into a handcrafted and personal project. Like all things it’s a balance, technology can help pushing the limits of creativity, but it can never replace it entirely.  

Have you participated in any runway shows, exhibitions, or collaborations? What did you learn from those experiences?

Last year, we had a chance to experience a real runway show. As many ways as I imagined it to be like, it's always a different experience when you’re personally, professionally and emotionally involved. It’s something about seeing your work come to life in real time that feels unlike anything else you can even imagine. The sleepless nights, countless hours of sketching and stitching and doing over all start to make sense, and you become eager to get back to it. Gives you a real idea into a professional life in fashion design, and what it would be like to finish a project in the real world, and that feeling is worth all the blood sweat and tears you can put into it. The next runway can never come soon enough 

What’s been the biggest challenge for you so far in the program, and how have you dealt with it?

The two things that first come to my mind are first of all relationships with teachers and managing my time. Understanding the dynamics a teacher puts into a class, and understanding the ways in which he can help you achieve your best potential isn’t always evident, but once you come to understand it things turn into more of a productive and helpful dialogue in order to develop my work and push my creativity rather than a graded assignment. But in terms of time management, it’s the classic struggle of getting things done on time in order to not get overwhelmed in the final weeks of a project. Of course it was a learning curve, but every semester that passes by shows I have less and less sleepless nights, which makes me think I'm slowly but surely learning. 

What do you enjoy most about studying at the Creative Campus?

I think the creative spirit of this campus is inspiring. We’ve come to build an environment that is filled with physical iterations of hundreds of creative minds. Just walking around, you can get a real insight in the different ways that specific degrees interpret art and creativity. Architecture is quite technical whereas design is more in the artistic field, and fashion is a bit of an in between, even if it concerns a very different aspect of the creative world. However, I find the coolest aspect to be the different ways in which each artist interprets the same assignment. It really comes to show you how unique each creative mind can be  

What advice would you give to someone who is about to start studying Fashion Design at IE?  

I would say be patient with yourself and stay consistent. The start is always confusing and feeling lost is part of the process, and projects can feel chaotic especially if organization isn’t one of your strengths. However, please leave your worries to the side and remember to take it day by day, one assignment at a time. Finally, remember teachers are your best resource and are always on your side. So let your creative mind run wild, and they will help you push your ideas and potential to the best they can be. Be patient, trust the process, trust those who are there to help, and never let your creative spirit die.