Fashion & Beauty Editor
Up-and-coming designer Nina Perdomo, a second-year fashion student at the Art Institute of New York City, will show her mini-collection of six looks alongside 11 other Art Institute students from around the country. For this coveted spot in the show, Perdomo competed with designers from across the country. Her collection is entitled “Paradigm.” It’s designed for the woman who likes to wear edgy silhouettes, textures, colors and prints.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Perdomo uses emotion and her own experiences in her designs. Her looks have an androgynous feel that incorporates male and female elements. She is currently studying for an associate of applied arts degree at the Art Institute of New York City .
Perdomo began her fashion journey with her love for sketching sneakers while she attended junior high school. Although she joined and served in the U.S. Navy as an engineer, she could not ignore her passion for fashion and visually stimulating designs. Inspired by designers such as Rick Owens and Alexander Wang, she is working on building her brand. She admires their forward-thinking approaches and the subtle beauty of their collections. After graduation, she wants to work for a company that will teach her the business of fashion to establish her brand.
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Jacksonville, Fla., she presently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. For fall, her collection provides women’s ready-to-wear with blouses, skirts and pants. Her shapes are boxy and loose-fitting.
“The look is changing from tight-fitting clothes to more of a roomy fit,” said Perdomo. In her new collection, there are lots of leather and patchwork treatments.
When it comes to hemlines, Perdomo never considers them relevant. The fashion piece could be long or short—it’s all about what she thinks about a particular garment. She designs for women who are confident within themselves.
In her women’s line, colors are rich. She shows deep navy, purple and green. These hues are balanced by grays that come together to create the Paradigm collection.
Currently, Perdomo works as an intern for Diane von Furstenberg. She is well aware that challenging herself will only build her own self-confidence and expand her horizons.
“When I began my internship at Diane von Furstenberg, I realized that without the knowledge I gained in school, it would’ve taken me much longer to [get to where I am today],” said the 25-year-old designer.