Susanna Moyer’s Journey as a Fashion Designer, Professor and Advocate for Sustainability
Susanna Moyer, a seasoned professional in the fashion Industry, recently joined me in an interview, during which she provided an in-depth look at her educational experiences, the evolution of the industry, and her ideas on the future of fashion. Moyer, who has spent decades navigating the world of style, has established a career by relying on her creative talent, putting in a lot of hard work, and maintaining good relationships with mentors and industry insiders.
Moyer was part of an exclusive group of students at Parsons, which included future fashion icons like Marc Jacobs, Tracey Reese, Mark Badgley, James Mischka of Badgley Mischka. Moyer credits Calvin Klein with firmly nudging her toward pursuing her career aspirations in Paris, advising her to visit there before devoting too much time to New York. Moyer took his advice, relocated to Paris, and worked with houses like Christian Dior and Ted Lapidus. Moyer stated, “If you work hard, craft your skill and have a good portfolio, people will respect and bring you into the space of working in the fashion industry.”
During our conversation on her educational career, Moyer revealed that if she were to start over again from scratch, she would enroll in the Fashion Institute of Technology because of the institution’s all-encompassing method of instruction. She remarked, “Today, I would select FIT, because the curriculum gives you the skills you need to get a job and work in the fashion industry.”
While working at Parsons, Moyer also brought up the support she received from prominent people in the business, such as Tim Gunn. She said, “It prepared me during school for a career in the fashion industry,” emphasizing the significance of hard work, having a good portfolio and the impact of mentors in her journey.
Since she began her work, Moyer has seen several significant transformations in the industry, characterized by rapid change. Moyer underlined the increased emphasis on sustainability, slow fashion and the use of technology in the design process. She also discussed the importance of slow fashion.
Moyer explained that previously, the primary concern was fashion rather than the environmental impact of clothes production at the time because “we weren’t thinking about sustainability back in the day.” According to Moyer, now, consumers are more interested in collectible and repurposed fashion, “so, there’s a lot of things going on that have changed to make the industry better.”
Continuing our conversation, Moyer highlighted her excitement about the prospects of virtual reality in the fashion industry and the possibility of 3D design technology such as CLO-3D. “I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the CLO-3D technology. Have you seen it? It’s amazing,” and I quote, “you can create a fashion show and create an avatar that looks like you or your customer.” Later, Moyer reinforced the growing importance of technology, particularly in enhancing garment fit and design. Moyer said, “Future wise, I think what’s going to start to happen is technology [will] become more of a normal way for people to purchase [clothes].” She added, “You can get your body scanned with your personal measurements so the garments can be customized to fit you.”
Yet, Moyer highlighted that there is still a problem with waste and that the garment industry needs to adopt more environmentally responsible practices. She stated, “There is so much waste in the world, so I think interesting designers are looking to create collections by using repurposed garments and textiles.” Moyer praised designers such as Emily Bode for their forward-thinking and environmentally conscious ideas. Moyer said Bode is “one of the most important designers using sustainability right now.”
Moyer also discussed her time spent instructing students at Parsons Paris and how this role helped her connect with the younger generation of fashion designers and stated,” I loved it so much because it kept me young all these years.”
Moyer was part of a team that organized the Parsons program in Paris, she recalled that she “still has[s] friends from back then, including one who went on to become the dean of Parsons after being one of [her] students.”
As a respected figure in the world of fashion education, Moyer’s dedication to her craft and her students is shown through the many designers she has mentored and inspired over the years. For instance, Molly Boehm, one of Moyer’s students at FIT, speaks highly of the professor’s influence on her career and her love for fashion. Boehm stated, “I genuinely liked her class. Going into it I wasn’t good at drawing, but I improved because now I know the basics of where to start when drawing a garment.”
In honor of her son’s passing at 17, Moyer focused on doing what she loved and wanted to do rather than working for companies that didn’t align with her values. She explained how her son wanted her to help his friends who were interested in fashion, as she recalled a conversation she had with her son, and stated, “When Christian was alive, he was like, ‘Mom, Mom, can you talk to my friend? She wants to do fashion, or she’s interested in fashion’; I’d say, ‘Sure!’”
Motivated by this, Moyer started a company called Global Fashion Mentorship, which helps students interested in fashion who may not have the financial means to pursue it. Moyer tutors these students in creating a portfolio and navigating the different requirements of fashion schools. The company has since expanded to help designers who are starting their brands or looking to scale their existing businesses, “We have evolved our services to assist designers that are starting their own brands and are at a place where they need to strategize and scale their business.” she said.
Moyer’s commitment to her company is inspiring to anyone looking to explore the world of fashion. It is with great admiration and respect that Moyer’s journey in the fashion industry is brought to light through her own words and has inspired people to strive for greatness and make a positive impact on the world around us.
