Arts

Student SpotlightGraham Johns ’14: Reinventing Appearances

As a fifth grader, Graham Johns ’14 began his career as a fashion designer by creating hundreds of pencil sketches of his designs and taking sewing classes. By his Lower year at Andover, he had acquired the skills to design and construct a complete gown, fitted to the model’s exact dimensions.

“My parents supported me from the very beginning. They put me in sewing classes and have been very supportive of my interests,” said Johns. “It was my dad that taught me that it’s important to take pride in one’s appearance.”

Since then, Johns has paid special attention to the way people present themselves through fashion, and has strived to follow his father’s values by designing his own clothing.

Johns’ vision is to dress others in a way that showcases their individual personalities in a sophisticated manner. He sees clothing design as a form of artistic expression, a way to highlight people’s strong points and an opportunity to make his personal mark on the world of fashion.

“My interest in fashion stems from an awareness of the world around me,” said Johns. “You can tell a lot about a person’s personality and their background from the way they dress. As a designer, I can change how people look at others with a change of shoes, or a differently-fitting trouser. That excites me.”

Johns defines himself and the people he dresses with a combination of his personal style and classic looks with a bit of edge.

“I love having contrast [in my designs]. I love pleated skirts that billow out when matched with a fitted top. Whatever I’m creating, whether it be trousers or a skirt or a gown, there will be a certain amount of contrast between tight and billowy, between soft and hard, between conservative and provocative,” said Johns.

Currently, Johns is focusing on suiting for women and the black-on-black trend, which he refers to as “gothic street-ninja.” He always has new ideas in his head of looks to create. One such look is a snakeskin and chiffon mini-dress he fondly refers to as his favorite garment so far.

“He brings his style to campus and adds his own flair to the typical boarding school look,” said Campbell Howe ’14.

In addition to being influenced by his own personal style, Johns’ designs are also inspired his own childhood experiences. Looking out the window during road trips with his family instilled an early love of colors and places in Johns.

“This year, I’ve been inspired by looks and silhouettes of the American Old West,” he said. “I’m also inspired by a lot of exotic and coastal locations. When I think of a place or a time period, I give myself a chance to be inspired by what people wore and put my own personal [twist] on it. Fashion allows a person to escape from their current place and time, become someone that they want to be, in a way that they find favorable.”

In the short-term, Johns will continue to develop his design passion by serving as the director of the annual West Quad North Fashion Show. The show is a highly anticipated event on campus in which student designs are showcased to the public.

In the long run, Johns aspires to work in fashion. He hopes to influence people through fashion when he is older and hopes to become Editor-in-Chief of “Vogue” magazine.

Johns is confident and proud of his sense of style and always tries to remind people to “walk like they own the place” whenever they take fashion risks.

“I want people to stand out and heads to pass when the person walks by,” said Johns on people wearing his designs. “Style, through fashion, allows me to live my life confidently, and I want that for others as well.”