photography & interview : Luke Copping
dress : Tess Hinterbichler
model : Nicole Maile
makeup : Rachel Mazzie
hair : Jessica Jean

In Buffalo’s Recent Runway 3.0 event there was a standout designer amongst the students involved. Tess Hinterbichler put together a chameleonic and mutable collection of garments ranging from casual separates to fully produced dress. Unique construction allows several of her garments to literally transform elements of themselves into new pieces of both artistic fashion and wearable sculpture.  The winner of the events Nancy Belfer award, Tess is slated to begin a fashion internship in Boston shortly. But while she is still in Buffalo we had the chance to produce a small shoot for Tess and conduct and interview with this young designer whose insights into fashion and design should excite Auxiliary readers about the next generation of designers we may be hearing a lot about in the future.

Your work seems to combine a unique futurist perspective with a sense of evolution and change. Where did you draw influence from for this collection?

Since this was my senior project for Buffalo State College, all of the designers were told the theme of the runway show (Technology: progression obsession) and told to run with it.  I must admit that when I first heard the theme, I was a little turned off because my design aesthetic is more ready-to-wear than futuristic or technological; I want my clothing to be beautiful yet functional.  After months of brainstorming and working on ideas for my concept board, I was finally able to translate the technology theme to my perspective as a designer.

I was inspired by the architecture of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, which is both modern and traditional. Functionality and innovation are two key terms that come to my mind when dealing with technology. The function or purpose of my technology is transformation.  I incorporated wire into certain seam-lines of my garments so that they can be morphed into a different look.

What is your background in design, how did you come to fashion as a field of study?

I had known that I wanted to be a designer for as long as I’ve remembered. I still have my second grade, college-ruled science notebook that I would draw designs in instead of taking notes; needless to say, science was never my subject.  The thing that eventually lead me to the decision to study fashion design in college was when I attended the senior fashion show at Syracuse College.  My godmother’s daughter, Molly studied fashion design there and the show was amazing!  The show was held in one of the auditoriums, there was loud music and lots of people.  It was the most exciting this I had ever been to.  On the four hour drive back to Buffalo from Syracuse I started to draw my our fashion sketches.  I knew from that point on that I wanted to be a designer.

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Highlights from Runway 3.0, a Buffalo, NY based celebration of student fashion, local designers, and style. This year’s iteration of Runway 3.0 was an amazing achievement for all involved, most notably show coordinator Erin Habes. A wonderful collection of eclectic fashions from the student designers was accompanied by a noted selection of inspiring local designers including Buffalo born fashion superstar Adam Lippes. Runway photographer Cheryl Gorski provided Auxiliary Magazine with a collection of images handpicked by her and myself, Luke Copping, to appeal to the quirky and fashion forward tastes of Auxiliary’s readers. Standouts from the show included Morgen Love, who has been featured by Auxiliary before, as well as Tess Hinterbichler who was recently interviewed by Auxiliary, stay tuned in the coming days for Tess’ interview and more images of her collection.

left Anthony Scaparo
right Morgen Love

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