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The collection started out being about the spirit of America, after I studied abroad in Hong Kong back in Spring 2016. Being there really made me think about what America meant to me. My thought process definitely started with poking fun at American ideals, a society where money reigns supreme. I wanted to communicate my version of America, where everyone is celebrated, through fashion.

The concept of my senior thesis collection is All-American: Redefined. Where I’m taking the “all-American” stereotypical definition and flipping it on its head. In Darby’s America-individuality reigns supreme. Girls aren’t afraid to be bold and because each of my looks are daring, it makes each one different but the same. Because we’re all different but the same.

There is an underlying tongue-in-cheek pageant theme because I think the Miss America pageant world/ "all-American" term have similar expectations. Where I took into account the different categories (evening wear, etc) and translated that into fashion. Making the collection all-inclusive. This bold, playful, cheeky collection is what it is to be “all-American” in Darby’s America.