Designer: Hailey Jensen
Title: The Bathhouse – Spirited Away
Hailey Jensen, from the Bay area, is a self-taught seamstress & watercolor painter, with a love for books, movies & TV shows. She has been drawing since she could hold a pencil & designing costumes inspired by her favorite characters since the fourth grade. Four years ago, after watching Project Runway for ages, she decided to seriously try her hand with a sewing machine. “My first real project was some Halloween costumes for me & my family,” she recalls. “We dressed as Merida & her parents from the movie Brave. I’ve been making our Halloween costumes ever since, as well as a few fancy gowns & some casual everyday clothes. It’s honestly become an addiction!”
As a self-taught seamstress, Hailey says she learned most everything she knows from You Tube & hours of research online. Within four years she’s made over seventeen costumes, a few fancy gowns, sundresses & separates. Two of her self-designed costumes were even featured in an HBO compiled Game of Thrones ‘Fan Compendium’ book. “It’s so important to celebrate things that we are passionate about,” she says proudly. “ I know I was one of those girls shopping in the guys sections for cool t-shirts, and the more geek couture spreads, the more fashion becomes available for everyone to be able to wear and share their love of their fandom.”
Photo: Mark Edwards