Parsons’ B.F.A Fashion Design student Jamileh Nadelmann expresses her desire to not only survive, but thrive in creative, competitive environments…and thriving is surely what she does. Growing up in an artistic family of singers, actors, and pianists, Nadelmann found her love for tailoring and construction through the many hours she spent at the theater. As she matured, she explored theater around the world with her family, giving her a holistic view of the arts. At the age of 18, Nadelmann moved from her home in Switzerland to New York City in order to pursue her career at Parsons. Since then, she has honed her craft through courses at Central Saint Martin’s, where her final project was chosen to be featured in i-D Magazine.
The young designer’s ambition has taken her incredible places, working under some of the most well-known names in the fashion industry. After first working as a production assistant at Mary Katrantzou, Nadelmann was asked to join Temperley London’s team, contributing print artwork to their Fall 2015 collection. She was also approached by WGSN, one of the world’s top trend-forecasting, for inspiration, mood boards, and trend analysis. Her work creating CAD’s and embellishments for Nicole Miller was recently described as the runway show’s highlight by The Daily Front Row. Currently an intern for Marc Jacobs, Nadelmann has gained a better understanding of serving a luxury customer base.
Recently, Nadelmann’s talent has landed her on the list of Designow contest winners. “When I first saw the Designow Challenge call at Parsons, I immediately knew that I had to enter. This amazing opportunity was very promising as it not only involved an award but also a complete design production experience.”
As a designer, it is important for Nadelmann that she stays true to her personal design aesthetic, deriving inspiration from architectural shapes and structures. “I approach fashion with great excitement,” she says. “I love expanding my knowledge of design techniques and learning how to take an initial idea and professionally develop it through to a final product.” Because it was a Boho Challenge, she was able to romanticize the aesthetic, giving it a more feminine and bohemian vibe, featuring suede pieces, accents of fringe, and loose flowing fabrics.
Nadelmann describes how her experience working with the Designow team has transformed her not only as a designer, but as a young businesswoman. Learning how to choose the best fabrics and price points also enhanced her ability to identify her target customer and produce clothing that would benefit both the designer and the consumer. As she takes her next steps in the challenge, she feels well-equipped to take on the ‘real world’ as a young designer.
