When she realized it was difficult to count on a career in the fashion industry, Kelsey Denczek-Kalczynski followed suit along with many college freshmen and switched her major.
But it took just one phone call to change her mind again.
Success in design contest inspires student to change major
Take Back the Night, an annual, day-long event was held yesterday across campus. Attendees had the opportunity to take part in various activities that worked to educate about and end sexual and domestic violence. One such activity was The Clothesline Project. This project asked survivors and allies to decorate T-shirts on which they share their stories of sexual violence. Beginning at 10 a.m. in the Union, these T-shirts were on display. Social work junior Hayli Szczechowski, psychology and mathematics junior Kari Edington and education junior Amy Dunn talked about The Clothesline Project and the effect such a display had on its viewers.
“I was just nervous and excited when I got the call,” said Denczek-Kalczynski, an apparel and textile design sophomore. “It was pretty much everything you can feel at once.”
Denczek-Kalczynski was told on the phone she made it to the semifinals in the 2011 Skintimate Studios “Ready for Everything” Fashion Design Contest and changed her major back to apparel and textile design the following day.
Denczek-Kalczynski now is a finalist in the competition, which allows online voters to choose one of the top 10 contestants to win an internship with fashion designer Mara Hoffman this summer.
The contest also includes a five-day stay in Miami, where Denczek-Kalczynski would assist Hoffman and her team with a Miami Swim Week fashion event. The contest is open to voters from Thursday until May 18.
“I really just want to have my own line, my own name and collection,” Denczek-Kalczynski said of her future plans.
“I just want people to know my name and be able to see my stuff and be able to inspire other designers like others have inspired me.”
Tammy Gilroy, Denczek-Kalczynski’s mother, said her daughter’s passion for fashion design started years ago, and she knew Denczek-Kalczynski had a special gift right away.
“Her bedroom was her sanctuary,” Gilroy said.
“She would sketch (dress designs) wherever.”
Trudie Wilson said she taught Denczek-Kalczynski fashion design at the Capital Area Career Center in Mason, which gives local students opportunities to jump-start their future careers, when she was a junior in high school.
Wilson said the news wasn’t surprising because Denczek-Kalczynski always had been a standout student in class.
“When (Denczek-Kalczynski) started a project, she was focused,” Wilson said.
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“She just had the ‘it’ factor. Her fashion book, pictures, sketching — they were just amazing.”
Aside from talent, Wilson said Denczek-Kalczynski has the personal characteristics that are important in finding success in a tough industry.
“She values education,” Wilson said.
“She’s a good worker — she’s always giving you A-plus work or better.”
Denczek-Kalczynski has gone outside Michigan to learn more about the industry, spending time in a fashion design program at Columbia College Chicago during the summer before her freshman year at MSU. She said her experiences in Chicago helped solidify her passion for the art form.
To participate in the competition, applicants were asked to answer essay questions and submit a drawing of a dress they designed.
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Both the questions and dress design incorporated the idea of the “Ready for Everything” theme of the contest.
Denczek-Kalczynski said to her, the theme meant being whatever person you want to be in the moment.
“I wanted to create the perfect gown that I would want to wear,” Denczek-Kalczynski said.
“Purple is my favorite color, and I like a lot of embellishment. … I wanted all of the components I would want in the perfect dress, and I just wanted to put that in the design.”
Gilroy said being part of the competition has been a unique experience for Denczek-Kalczynski.
“She is a great kid,” Gilroy said.
“She has a beautiful personality — she was never one that needs the spotlight on her, so it’s been overwhelming the past week.”
As overwhelming as it might be to Denczek-Kalczynski, she said all she wants to do as a designer is make women feel one-of-a-kind when they wear her creations.
“When a special moment happens (to someone), I want them to be wearing my (design),” Denczek-Kalczynski said. “I want them to feel special in the moment and I want to be a part of that.”
To learn more about the fashion competition or to vote for the best-designed dress, visit
skintimatestudios.com.
