Lucky Boy
/Show Day
DAY3, APR 10
/Social Media
Frances Brunner is a designer from Louisville, Kentucky, driven by themes of personal transformation, self-discovery, and sustainability. Her work begins with the question, "Who would we be without our limiting beliefs?" and aims to inspire introspection, encouraging wearers to reflect on their untold stories and limitless potential. Holistic sustainability forms the foundation of my practice, where she focuses on eco-friendly materials and create garments that evolve with the wearer. After being featured in Vogue Hong Kong as a finalist in the 2023 Redress Design Awards and earning recognition for her BFA thesis collection, WORTH WEARING WH1TE, her vision for the future is to build a brand that pushes the boundaries of sustainable fashion and fosters deeper connections between the wearer and the garment. Brunner’s hope is that Lucky Boy will inspire a global movement toward intentional living, self-expression, and continuous transformation.
“The most important would be the Redress Design Awards collection (blue/on stage), as this is their photo provided to me so I will need to credit them. The other photography is with a local photographer, Nicholas Santo.”
PREVIOUS COLLECTIONS
What inspired you to become a fashion designer?
Fashion became a way to explore creative expression and personal transformation. Being taught to sew by my grandmother at age 10 and later studying Fashion Design at Kent State University helped develop this path.
How would you describe your design style?
The style combines sustainability, reconstruction, and personal storytelling. Secondhand, inherited, and deadstock materials are transformed into new textiles and garments, while softer forms of masculinity, vulnerability, and authenticity are explored through the designs.
What can people expect from your collection?
The All Stars collection explores personal transformation through reconstructed and self made textiles. Materials include repurposed denim, cotton batting, secondhand wool suiting, vintage lace, burlap, and other reclaimed materials. The collection also explores vulnerability, authenticity, and a broader understanding of masculinity.
What inspired the All Stars collection?
The collection draws from personal transformation, self discovery, and the experience of growing up in Louisville, Kentucky. Southern traditions, family stories, and time spent on a horse farm influenced the collection, while the idea of breaking free from limiting beliefs became a central theme.
How does sustainability influence your creative process?
Sustainability is approached through textile transformation and reconstruction. Materials such as post consumer denim, denim shoddy, cotton batting, vintage lace, secondhand wool, and reclaimed suiting are transformed into new textiles and garments, giving existing materials a renewed purpose.