Written by Emmy Diamond, a Department of Fashion Merchandising student
Kalei’o Hernandez’s collection blends prep-school polish with Texas flair. Photo: Emmy Diamond
Noticing that no one had yet created a collection inspired by the Department of Fashion Merchandising, junior Kalei’o Hernandez decided to take matters into his own hands.
“My parents always told me, ‘See a need, fill a need,'” Hernandez said. “No one has done it prior, so why couldn’t I?”
From that idea, he developed a collection that blends prep-school polish with Texas flair, inspired by his upbringing in an all-boys private school. The collection evolved from “a singular sweater and now it’s a small collection,” Hernandez said.
Each piece complements the following piece. Once an article came to life, another followed suit, becoming a balanced capsule collection. Hernandez credits much of his creative direction to his fashion industry class and Instructor Nicole Bettinger, who introduced him to the Worth Global Style Network (WGSN). The forecasting website helped him explore upcoming fashion trends, ensuring his collection remains current.
However, when asked about the process of translating ideas into reality, Hernandez was quick to share the challenges. “Trying to have a certain aesthetic in your mind but curate it into something so New England coded in a Texas design, I feel, is almost unheard of,” he explained.
Despite the challenges, the designer remains hopeful that the collection will inspire his peers.
“It’s honestly given me a lot of hope,” Hernandez said. “I feel like it’s giving other people hope — that you can do stuff with this. This is a multi-billion-dollar business for a reason, and probably the most influential one daily.”
Summarizing his collection into three words, Hernandez carefully chose classic, stylish and Americana. Inspiration is pulled from Ralph Lauren, incorporating American colors from WGSN reports of uptrends in red and blue color schemes. The line blends individuality and innovative design – a reflection of TCU’s identity and the new generation of fashion students craving to make an impact on the industry.