Sandra Huffaker

21 years old

I am really excited to be taking part in Season II of Philadelphia University's Runway Challenge. This is a great opportunity to show my skills as a designer, as well as to push myself to an even higher level. I love to be faced with challenges when it comes to design, and I feel I get my best designs from meeting and rising above challenges. I particularly like to work with men's and children's wear because of the extra challenges they present to the designer. Safety issues and marketability are not restraints to good design, but tools that you can use to make good design excellent design. I also like to use unexpected inspirations for my designs, from books to social issues to developments in physics. By drawing from life you can create designs that have a much deeper meaning. In addition to challenging myself with design concepts and markets, I also enjoy challenging myself with the construction of a garment. I love to learn hands-on, to teach myself how to make and fit something the best.

Having worked in the musical theater industry for three years, I have been confronted with plenty of construction challenges, from making plate costumes for Beauty and the Beast, to turning a size six dress into a size ten within an hour. It is through these experiences that I have been able to become a good designer, and I can only grow when confronted with more challenges. Runway Challenge is the perfect place for me to hone my skills and continue to grow as a designer.