Today we’d like to introduce you to Myah Hasbany.
Myah, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My evolution as an artist started by doing every type of art during middle school and my first few years of high school. I began working at a vintage store in my sophomore year of high school and that is when clothing design and reconstruction became my main focus. Last year, I decided I wanted to challenge myself and create my own clothing line from scratch. The only problem was that I had no idea how to sew, and only about eight months to design and prepare the collection. It basically took over my life, and the entirety of my junior year summer was spent sewing 6-8 hours a day. This type of work ethic has been constant throughout my life. My anxiety fuels a majority of the work I create, and I always feel the need to be making more, working harder and pushing myself. As a way to focus this energy, I have refined my artistic process into a series of steps. Starting with an overarching set of ideas, I will do extensive research in the form of books, movies, articles, etc. I then complete countless sketches, which include reworking the design multiple times, and experimenting with materials, which have included silicon, resin, paper maché, embroidery, neoprene, metal, ceramics, and hair.
This was the case with this collection, which explores the concept of the Uncanny Valley, or the emotional reaction that comes from seeing human simulations. The most common response is a feeling of uneasiness or discomfort, and I wanted to explore how I could evoke this feeling through silhouette, textile manipulation, etc. I created 21 looks around this concept, as well as curating hair, makeup, lighting, sound and models.
Overall it was a great learning experience, and I haven’t stopped working ever since. Currently, I’ve been interested in more extreme silhouettes, mediums, and pushing fashion into the performance art realm. I’m hoping to go to college for fashion design and continue what I’m doing now, and hopefully start a company one day.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve definitely struggled with anxiety pretty consistently the past few years of my life. In some ways, it’s a blessing because it’s probably why I make the volume of work that I do. I constantly feel the need to be making more, and even when I need to rest, I feel so guilty about it. This makes it hard to tell how much of my drive is rooted in my passion for an art form and how much is my need to satisfy my own anxiety.
It’s also hard to be taken seriously as a fashion designer in a school that is mostly focused on studio arts. It’s an unfamiliar thing to a lot of people, and sometimes even a joke. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though, it’s a good indication that I’m doing something that gets people out of their comfort zones. I’d rather get a reaction, negative or positive, than no reaction at all. Some people are bound not to get it, and that’s ok.
The idea of clothing as art has always been controversial, and that’s what most of my work explores. Having a studio art background rather than a traditional sewing background has made my approach to clothing construction more radical as well. I feel less confined by rules and techniques, which makes it easier to create extravagant shapes and ideas. I think that’s also why it’s hard for people to understand what I’m doing because my garments are more sculpture than clothes a lot of the time, or unfinished in a way that is not common in basic ready to wear.
Please tell us about your work.
Most of what I’ve been doing recently is crochet and knitwear work. My first collection started my interest in voluminous crochet pieces, and I’ve been trying to push the boundaries of giant plush creatures ever since. Creating pieces that are imposing and comforting at the same time is a huge interest of mine. Right now, I’m trying to see how many variations that con have and exactly how large I can make them until they are completely unwearable. Because I’m not the owner of a “company” or “brand” yet, it gives me more room to try out everything that interests me without thinking about how sellable it is. These recent pieces are very representative of my design work as a whole; focusing on silhouette and shape, not comfort or wearability.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
More than luck playing a role, I feel like it has been that interesting people usually find each other. Usually, if you’re talented and passionate, it’s easy to tell who has the same motivations you do. Those kind of people are usually excited to support each other, and the fact that I’m willing to trade free labor for experience also helps quite a bit. I’m still really new to the entire world of fashion, and more often than not, the fact that I’m a “kid” plays to my advantage. People understand that I’m trying to get experience while I’m young and they recognize that may have been a struggle for them too. Having the confidence to ask people for help is also a huge lesson to learn, and most of the time, they will help you!
Contact Info:
- Website: Myahhasbany.weebly.com
- Email: myah.hasbany@gmail.com
- Instagram: @myahhasbany
Image Credit:
The first photo was taken by Nick Glover. The second two photos were taken by Mathew Luna. All other Photos were taken by me.
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