Designer: Sam Skyler
Title: Wayfinder – Moana
Sam Skyler, from Wilton, California, grew up in a very creative environment and knew from an early age she wanted to be artist. “Being a professional artist, I feel very fortunate to have collaborated with many different teams and companies on a variety of projects, which helped shape the artist I am today,” she says. “Because I am truly passionate about nerd culture, a few years ago I started getting into cosplay, which is where my love of nerd culture, art, fashion and community were brought together. It’s been and continues to be a remarkable journey!”
Sam entered the fashion world around the same time she entered the first Her Universe Fashion Show in 2014. “That’s when I started cosplaying too, where I found my art and design background very helpful in constructing costumes. I feel fortunate to have won awards through my cosplay work, such as winning best in show at the WonderCon & SDCC Masquerades in 2015 as well as working with companies to help promote their video games as their characters. Cosplay has opened many doors in my professional and personal life, and I’m truly amazed by the passionate, hardworking and kind people I have been so fortunate to meet!” In all the pieces that Sam creates, she says she tries her absolute best to capture elements of a story or character that feel very inspiring. She has a strong enthusiasm for storytelling and being creative. Her design for this year’s fashion show has a personal element to it. “Moana is a character that I was instantly drawn to and could identify with in many ways,” she reveals. “I’m half Pacific Islander, so I was very excited to see this culture so beautifully represented and shared on the big screen for everyone to enjoy!”