Model Dana Joy Jacobsen shot by RpKeskar Photography.
“Style is a magic wand, and it turns everything in to gold that it touches.” – Logan Pearsall Smith.
And I think it’s true. We aren’t only speaking of fashion, but any sort of style; Apple’s style of technology, street style in blogs that finds its way to the pages of Vogue, and the structured style of cutting by Vidal Sassoon. An outstanding, unique style of anything can change the world as we know it.
An entrepreneur knows they have to overcome many obstacles in life to see their dreams come true, and you can see that clearly in Milwaukee fashion designer Tessa Koller.
Tessa attended MIAD for fashion design, where she stood out from her class. When asked how she creates her designs, Tessa says that she gets inspiration from places you wouldn’t expect: waves along the lakefront and their ever-changing shapes, as well as cloud formations as seen from an airplane. She prefers to use organic materials with geometric shapes. Many of her pieces are versatile, with the option to wear them each five different ways.
At left: Tessa in one of her own designs available on etsy.
While in MIAD, Tessa started to notice that she could not shake a fatigue that seemed to follow her daily. It started affecting her life so badly that it was hard for her to complete assignments. She went to see a doctor and was shocked to find out she suffered from VCFS: Velocardiofacial Syndrome. This syndrome affects her entire body, often making her too tired to function normally. Tessa said it turned her life upside down. VCFS results from the absence of the 22nd chromosome in one’s DNA. It affects one out of 4000 newborns, and can lead to heart problems and a weak immune system among other symptoms. Tessa needed heart surgery due to VCFS, and while she was always sick she knew she still had the drive to create fashions to not only make herself feel better, but to help others feel beautiful, too.
At right: Photo by Hawk Wilde Photography, Model Rose Marie
While Tessa still copes every day with VCFS, she finds the strength to make collections that have been featured in fashion shows and have even made the CBS 58 news. Her next fashion show will be June 16 in West Bend “A Walk to Remember,” benefiting Chix 4 A Cause. Tessa’s goal is to begin hosting her own fashion shows, benefiting those who endure the symptoms of VCFS, and raising awareness to something that is little-known but affects many people.
At left: Photo by Van Dyke Collections Model: Leana Christiana
To read more about Tessa’s experience with VCFS, please click here.
You can buy her designs online at her Esty site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/tessakoller and follow her on her blog http://tessakoller.blogspot.com/.
