Kathryn Henzler
Kathryn Henzler grew up in a household where the arts were more than just appreciated—they were a way of life. "I was lucky enough to have two parents who themselves met while doing community theatre, so they always encouraged me and my siblings to get into the arts," Kathryn shares. This encouragement led to a childhood rich in artistic exploration, where music, theatre, and creativity were constants.
A Nurturing Environment
Kathryn’s parents played a significant role in shaping her creative journey. "My parents enrolled me in choirs when I was very young, sent me to musical theatre camp for five years, and didn’t bat an eyelash as I switched from cello to saxophone to viola," she recalls. This freedom to explore different forms of artistic expression allowed Kathryn to develop a diverse set of creative skills. "They cheered me on when I started doing fashion design, watercolors, and sewing, and supported my decisions in applying to university and college programs of my choice," she adds, grateful for their unwavering support.
It was during her time at the Creative Strings Institute at Interlochen Center for the Arts in 2008 that Kathryn’s commitment to a career in the arts solidified. "I spent all my downtime when I wasn’t playing music at that camp writing my first attempt at a novel," she says. The inspirational setting of Interlochen was a turning point, leading Kathryn to dedicate her life to writing, music, and other forms of artistic expression.
A Diverse Educational Background
While Kathryn’s formal education doesn’t specifically focus on visual art, writing, or literature, it has nonetheless played a crucial role in her development as an artist. "I have a BA in East Asian Languages and Cultures from USC and an MMus in Music Technology and Digital Media from the University of Toronto," she explains. Kathryn was also selected to participate in USC’s Thematic Option, a general education honors program with a heavy focus on literature and writing. "That program played a huge part in cultivating my interest in writing by providing me with a variety of inspiring works to read and emulate," she shares.
This diverse educational background has equipped Kathryn with a broad set of skills and perspectives, which she brings to her creative projects. "As a Thematic Option student, I refined my essay-writing skills, developed my creative writing, and even wrote and presented conference papers," she says, highlighting how her formal education has fueled her growth as a writer.
Exploring Different Genres and Mediums
Kathryn’s creative journey is marked by her willingness to explore different genres, styles, and mediums. "I tend to be more longform-focused when it comes to my writing, as most of my works are novels, but I also dabble in scriptwriting, short stories, and poetry," she explains. Her motivation to explore new forms of expression is often spontaneous. "If I happen to get inspired to write something, I just write it," she says.
Recurring themes in Kathryn’s work include independence versus overreliance, grief, and asexuality. "The theme of the need for independence while not being able to be independent represents something I struggle with in my own life as a chronically ill person," she shares. Writing about asexuality, a personal aspect of her identity, is her way of providing the representation she wished she had growing up. "Grief is also ubiquitous in my writing because I haven’t known an adult life without it, and to me, it is probably the most burdensome part of the human experience," Kathryn adds.
A Unique Creative Process
Kathryn’s creative process is centered around comfort and solitude. "I usually can’t create unless I am at least somewhat comfortable and hydrated," she notes. A mug of herbal tea, a comfy chair, and complete solitude are essential for her to feel free to express herself. "I also can’t create while around other people, such as in a coffee shop. I have to be completely alone," she says.
Balancing her creative work with other aspects of life is a challenge for Kathryn. "I’m actually very bad at balancing things," she admits. As a freelance manga translator and editor with chronic illness, she often finds herself prioritizing work and family obligations over her creative pursuits. However, she advises others not to follow her example. "Prioritize your art," she urges.
Reflections and Aspirations
For Kathryn, success is not measured by conventional standards such as financial gain or awards but by personal satisfaction and the impact her work has on others. "If my work can live on for decades or even centuries down the road and keep finding new readers, listeners, or viewers, that will mean much more to me than making a comfortable living from something that is of no artistic consequence," she reflects.
Looking ahead, Kathryn aspires to continue finding inspiration and creating work that she is proud of. She also hopes to connect and collaborate more with other artists, particularly those in visual and sonic arts. "I’m currently working on a short film script about what it is like to be asexual and chronically ill in the ongoing pandemic while stuck in a difficult family living situation," she shares. This project is deeply personal, reflecting her experiences over the past four years and her desire to help others learn from her journey.
A Message of Empowerment
Kathryn’s closing message is one of empowerment for all artists: "Even if you don’t make money from your work, if you have created something, you are an artist. Period. End of story. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise."
Kathryn Henzler’s creative journey is a testament to the power of self-expression and the importance of staying true to one’s vision. Through her writing, music, and other artistic pursuits, she continues to explore themes of identity, independence, and resilience, offering her audience a chance to connect with her work on a deeply personal level.
Courtesy of Business Wire
The first realm of technologies that have made a huge impact on the fashion industry is 3D printing. 3D printing has allowed for designers to create products with great detail and intricacies. Computers have become much more steady and detail-oriented, and the power of 3D printing has created some phenomenal pieces.
The dress in this picture was created by designer Travis Fitch. It was made in 30 different printed sections with a multi-material. Multi-material is a flexible material that can be used by certain 3D printers to bring a designer's project to life and seem like real fabric.
3D printers often take in reused materials to give it a new life. That is why this form of fashion has such great sustainability measures as it can be made 100% from recycled materials.
The main drawback of 3D printing fashion is the immense time it takes to create each piece. The dress pictured took over 2000 hours to print. The more details that are incorporated into the design the longer it will take longer to print.
The next tools that have been changing the fashion industry are Virtual Reality and AI. This development has given people an avenue to try on garments and different fashion pieces without having the physical item. Designers can now digitally build their pieces and see it on a person before even starting a project, revolutionizing the design process.
A lot of retail stores such as Tilly’s have also begun to use Virtual Reality platforms as a feature on their websites to allow customers to virtually try-on their clothing.
Another branch of this kind of technology, Artificial Intelligence, is increasingly being used in the fashion realm. AI relies on large datasets and algorithms that allow modern shopping applications and websites to boost images or items that they predict the user would enjoy. This new way of consuming goods is heavily influencing the fashion industry, as customers are more easily able to find exactly what fits their tastes and preferences.
Courtesy of Rock Paper Reality
The last piece of technology that this article will discuss is that of smart fabrics. Smart Fabrics are embedded with sensors that can be used to regulate body temperature in cold climates and much more. Currently, most people are familiar with wearable technology such as an Apple watch. However, this sector of tech is growing rapidly and is intersecting with fashion to give us clothes made of microtechnology. The dress pictured below was designed by Ying Gao, made from photo luminescent thread and embedded eye tracking technology, which is a type of technology that gives a response when they detect a pupil or eye looking at it.
Smart fabrics are being incorporated into design more and more in the hopes that they help increase the standard of living for people.
As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, the synergy between technology and fashion design presents endless possibilities for innovation and sustainability. Technology allows for more intricate, personal, and unique designs and a whole new wave of fashion. The future of fashion is embracing this technology which brings unparalleled creativity into the industry.
Featured Photo Courtesy of SCHOHAJA Photography
