Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Scott.
Caroline, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Caroline Scott; I’m a 24-year-old lingerie designer from Atlanta and a 2023 SCAD fashion design grad. There’s definitely a part of me that’s always known I wanted to be a designer; from the time I was little, there were signs. I didn’t just play dress up; I lived in dress up. As you can imagine, this made getting dressed in the morning a whole production, as I was very opinionated. I only ever wanted to wear princess dresses, I hated turtlenecks, and refused to wear things that didn’t “twirl.” I think my mom had to launder my costumes more often than my regular clothes. From there, my fashion interests continued to grow. I remember making clothes for my dolls out of old t-shirts and taking a few sewing lessons here and there. At nine, I was gifted my grandmother’s old sewing machine and dress form. I still knew nearly nothing about sewing but was determined to design. And after receiving a croquis-filled sketchbook at twelve, my career was decided upon.
Fast forward to more recent years; it wasn’t until my junior year at SCAD that I decided I wanted to design lingerie. I’d always been interested in it from a vintage collector’s standpoint but hadn’t seen designing it as an option until my concept development class. My professor gave me the little push I needed to explore the idea and commit to doing lingerie for my thesis collection. At the time, I knew nothing about what went into the construction of a bra or corset, but I was determined to teach myself everything I needed to know. In hindsight, I’m so glad I did. Through the ups and downs of my senior year, I discovered my true passion and strength in design.
Since completing my thesis collection “Doll Parts” almost a year ago, a lot has happened. The day after graduation I co-produced and showed my collection in the 2023 BFA Student-Run Fashion Show; hosted by Johnson Lowe Gallery in Buckhead. Later that month, pieces from my collection were featured on the cover of Ellen Von Unwerth’s “Von Magazine” with actress Marina Mazepa. And as of this year, I’ve won two design competitions with my senior collection, most recently winning Gold in the Lingerie category of the IDA Awards. The news came back in January, the same day I left for an internship in London with Michaela Stark. I spent a month there working in Michaela’s studio on the launch of her new lingerie brand Panty; exhibited during Milan Fashion Week. After putting so much of my time and care into someone else’s work I couldn’t wait to get home and do the same for myself. Since coming back to Atlanta, I’ve been fully focused on the development of my sustainable lingerie brand Doll Parts, inspired by my thesis collection.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As I’m sure all artists would agree, the creative process is never straightforward. There are ups, downs, dry spells; it’s all a part of the journey. But combine this with the stressful design schedule of senior collection, all while co-founding a new university fashion publication and planning a fashion show, it’s hectic. I was juggling a lot more than most during my last year at SCAD. I suppose in the grand scheme of things, there weren’t major challenges, but every now and then, I’d wrestle with concept development or burnout.
For so much of senior year, I knew the direction I wanted to go with my collection but never how to translate it into words. My imagery, ideas, and designs were consistently cohesive, but oftentimes, I struggled to label my inspiration. Eventually I landed on an idea, but it would continue to evolve as my designs did. There were months of writing and rewriting, attempting to convey this story of “Lydia” and her attic adventures playing dress up in an old trunk of decaying lingerie. It wasn’t until I began pitching my concept in the Spring that someone pinpointed what was missing; I hadn’t included myself in the story. This forced me to really think about my personal connection to the concept and what it meant to me. Once I found that link, everything clicked.
I also dealt with burnout every now and again when it came to the construction phase of the collection. There was such a quick turnaround time from one sample or final look to the next that it was impossible to get everything right the first try. From week to week my feelings would change about certain pieces as the rest of the collection continued to evolve. This resulted in a lot of back and forth, deciding where to add and edit in hopes of finding a balance. And some days I couldn’t. There were many times I’d be working a garment and have the sneaking suspicion it needed something, but not be able to figure out what. I’d spend countless hours draping and pinning on myself in the mirror, trying to discover new ideas. Some days, it felt like I’d worked for hours and gotten nowhere. What kept me going was knowing that all that time and effort would eventually lead me to the answer. I quickly learned that the only way to deal with a lack of inspiration and exhaustion is to face it head-on. As frustrating as it can be to work through, determination and effort pays off in the end.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Not only am I a designer, I’ve also recently founded my own sustainable lingerie brand Doll Parts. I decided to name the brand after my thesis, “Doll Parts,” because I see it as an ongoing evolution of the collection. After completing the first collection, I really felt like I discovered my point of view as a designer. Starting the brand felt like a natural way to keep the momentum going. Thinking back on where I started, not knowing anything about how to make lingerie, to today working on a second collection, I couldn’t be more proud of myself. The first collection was about discovery, the second will be an exploration.
I’ve spent a lot of time lately working on patterns and samples, making sure everything I produce is in line with my design ethics. Because the environment is such a major consideration in my process, I’ve put lots of thought into exploring sustainable textile options and new ways of reducing waste in the studio. Currently, all Doll Parts pieces are made by hand in-house from deadstock or discarded materials and upcycled vintage pieces. There will be much more of a focus on corsets in the new collection, continuing to play with asymmetry and deconstruction, and in the coming months, we’ll be accepting custom orders. A few items from the first collection will be making reappearances, this time in a range of sizes, available both online and in-store. I can’t officially announce anything yet, but be sure to follow @dollpartsdollhouse on Instagram to stay up to date.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
One benefit I’ve found to living in Atlanta is the opportunity for collaboration with other artists, even outside of SCAD. I really feel like there’s so much creativity here, and have connected with so many new people since graduating and putting my work out there. From arts festivals to street art and film, Atlanta feels like a city that really values creativity and makes an effort to support the arts. Although it’s changing rapidly, there’s still an abundance of small businesses and artists that are able to exist because of continued community support. As for my least favorite thing, the drivers.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://dollpartsdollhouse.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollpartsdollhouse/
Image Credits
Nicole Hernandez
Stella Temporal
Maia Helvey
Deborah Aier
