From the Ground Up – Shane Foster’s Runway Debut

Vintage has inspired some of the trendiest looks in modern fashion, creating a harmony between past and present. Sophomore Shane Foster’s collection for the Hook’d spring fashion show was no exception. Foster was heavily inspired by classic American aesthetics and focused on exclusively using repurposed materials and thrifted clothing to craft his looks.

“You definitely have those tones of old Americana when you look at my clothes, like someone who listens to songs by the Doobie Brothers and stuff like that,” Foster said. “A lot of brands are pulling that off really well right now, like Imogen and Willie, Buck Mason, and Double RL.”

His collection, which marked his runway debut, was fittingly titled ‘From the Ground Up’ and honed in on colors and textures reminiscent of nature. There’s a strong feel of rawness and neutrality in Foster’s work, primarily through his use of greens and light-washed tones. He emphasized the importance of using natural color palettes found in garments before they’re dyed. 

“I’m deeply connected to that and how it holds a sense of nostalgia,” he said. “It depicts what we see through an unfiltered lens.”

Pieces included work pants in muted hues, bowling shirts made from repurposed coffee bean bags, and various plaid button-downs cut up and sewn into one shirt. There’s contrast and discord in some of Foster’s designs, but they ultimately seem to agree with one another and melt into a lightness that feels organic. 

He started making clothes during the pandemic after getting a sewing machine to occupy his time. From there, he shifted from learning the basics of the craft to making things that aligned with his creative identity, which eventually led to him forming his brand, “Sewn by Shane”. 

“A lot of the stuff I make, it’s mainly for me to look at and review afterwards,” Foster said. “I think right now, especially with it being just for me and not doing any commission work, it’s definitely kept me creatively motivated because I haven’t had any blockades on my mindset [when it comes to] making something.”

With the brand gaining more traction, Foster says he’s more open to the idea of selling his clothes and continuing to build the brand as it gains a bigger following. Still, he doesn’t feel any pressure to rush into anything and prefers to use the next two years learning. 

“I might delay it, but I might also do more [in] my junior year,” he said.

Archive pages on Instagram have proved to be a main source of inspiration for Foster, who also looks to style from the 1960s to 1980s because of the functionality it brought to fashion. It’s important that his clothes feel accessible and wearable and have a purpose beyond being a work of art. 

“A lot of the clothes I’m featuring have hardware, like Japanese imported hardware,” he explained. “It’s well made. The buttons and rivets go along with quality fabric. The pockets are cleaned and finished, and overlocking seams aren’t just everywhere. That’s my main thing.” 

Although vintage holds an important presence in his designs, Foster is hesitant to be overly influenced by fads that many household name brands are incorporating into their work. For him, the process is at risk of losing its charm and appeal once the focus switches to fitting into a mold to appeal to the public.

“I see what people are aiming towards and I see what’s going on [with trends], but I try to base things off of what I enjoy,” he said. “I haven’t started to make clothes for anyone else yet, so I don’t know if that’s something that might come to mind when I do, but I want it to [always] be something from my own inspiration [rather] than what’s flowing with design right now and menswear in general.” 

Post-fashion show, Foster feels more motivated than ever to get back to the drawing board and expose himself to new ideas. For now, though, he’s enjoying his first major milestone as a designer.  

“[The fashion show] was a great relief, but also super exhilarating,” he smiled. “Just having such a large crowd of people come out to see our work, coming out to see mine. I had my mom and her friend in the crowd, and a few other guys I’m good friends with came out to see it. It was the first time having a huge live audience see my clothes instead of [friends] wearing it out, so it was [amazing].”