Student Spotlight: Sunny Thorne, Pattern-making + Assembly Technique
From owning and operating her own furniture maker and upholstery company, Vancouver’s Sunny Thorne is always seeking new challenges that add her to already creative nature! As a new student in Pattern-making and Assembly, we are sure that her love of design and fashion will come in handy as her journey at The Cut moves forward.
What is the full name of the course that you are taking at The Cut?
Pattern Making + Assembly Technique.
Why did you originally decide to apply at The Cut for your education?
I love being a student. I can’t seem to stop going back to school! For the past two years, I’ve built my own custom furniture and upholstery design business. However, I love clothes and the more sewing I did for work, the more I realized I wanted to shift towards fashion design. I live in the area and was always curious about The Cut. The intimate classroom and the hands-on learning were particularly appealing for me as a student and maker. I loved that the interview process was so in-depth and that the school really works with students to help them reach their goals after graduation.
What skills are you looking forward to learning this semester?
I have an Industrial Design degree with a focus on furniture making, so the precision, accuracy, and attention to detail required for patternmaking are what drew me to this course. While I’m focused on mastering the fundamentals of the technical side of garment design, I’m most excited for the challenge of pushing my designs and working with fun fabrics to see what crazy things I can come up with.
What are your plans upon graduating?
I’d love the opportunity to learn more about garment design and construction from start to finish. Ideally, I'd like the find a job working under a smaller in-house designer in couture, formalwear, or bridal. I’m also considering a few graduate design programs abroad.
What excites you the most about 2022?
With the newly lifted restrictions, I’m really looking forward to travelling more and donning my dance pants for a great night out with friends!
Who are some of your favourite fashion designers or creators?
My personal style and design inspiration come from vintage aesthetics, particularly the1980s. I love vibrant colours, dramatic fits, and big-time sparkle. Fashion should be fun! Think anything from the TV show Dynasty, designer Bob Mackie, or YSL from that era. Contemporary designers that catch my eye are Rodarte, Ronny Kobo, and Area. However, most of my clothing has been raided from my mom's closet or bought second-hand!
From her studio in a little laneway house in her parents' backyard, Sunny designs and creates. She has converted a room in the garage into a studio space where she spends a lot of time designing, crafting, and making. When she is not working or tackling homework, she enjoys skiing.
Follow Sunny on IG at @ohheysunnymae