How long have you been designing?

I have been designing clothes since sophomore year of high school but I started putting my clothes out there my senior year. It takes a long time to work out all the kinks before anything is ready to be shown and since I am self taught this process was trial and error which took a bit of time.

Do you find your style & technique staying somewhat consistent with each design or does it change?

I find that my style is consistently contradictory and that my technique is constantly changing. My style is definitively a mix between the young girl and the mature. Sometimes shes more one than the other but I think its all about finding the balance between the two. The tulle dress i feel was a perfect embodiment of that combination, the mature part was that it was see through and black while the youth in it was the layers and layers of ruffles. Because I am using trial and error with the construction of the clothes, I feel my techniques are always changing. I like to experiment and try new ways to get the fabric to do this or that, sometimes the result is great, other times not so much. The models I use help keep the look consistent as well. I am so blessed to know the most beautiful people who love fashion and love just being there. We have a little family going on and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I read that New York City was your favorite city the world! Do you plan on moving there someday?

I do love New York SO SO MUCH! I would really love to move there someday. However, there is something very satisfying about being in Indiana because I never have to worry about people thinking about the trends too much. They see a piece of clothing that I make and they like it because they think it looks great, they don’t want it because they think its trendy. It is also easier to be in Indiana because it is easier for me to concentrate on my own aesthetic. I feel like if I was living full time in NY it would be like information overload and it would be difficult to stay true to my own ideas while being surrounded by the amazing fresh ideas of everyone else.

Who is your favorite designer?

Ahh tough question! The designer I admire most is Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga simply because I feel that he always presents his collections in such a focused and concentrated idea identified through the most beautifully constructed clothes in the industry. Waiting for the Balenciaga collection to hit the internet every October and March is like my Christmas, it is such a thrill to see what he has done next and I love that every time I am surprised. I don’t always love what he does the first few times I click through the photos but after a few weeks it feels just so perfect and now.

Since winning the Golden Key Away in 2009, what kind of opportunities has it presented or opened up for you?
Honestly the biggest thing the award has given me is a new determination to take my work to the next level. You only live once and it really is worth it to put yourself out there and show everyone what you can do. You will always regret it if you don’t and while some may think I have done a lot for my age, this has not even scraped the surface of what I want to accomplish.

What did your classmates think in school when they saw your designs and creations?

They were all really supportive. They loved that it was just something different in the halls than all the other art work hanging on the wall. Some were kind of skeptical about the part that it was almost entirely see through… can’t please everyone!

Where does your inspiration come from?

Honestly at this point my inspiration is second nature. I keep such a close grip on the industry that what comes next is practically second nature. I will be thinking to myself that I want to make this and that or I want to do a photo shoot like this but I cant exactly tell you where I got the idea… somewhere deep in the archives of thefashionspot.com probably, that place is a goldmine.

Are you planning another collection?

I am planning on doing another collection. There is no way I would ever stop what I am doing because whatever it is (a hobby or a business) it is what I love and I would feel really lazy if I wasn’t busy working on something productive.

What did you do once you graduated high school?

After high school I went to the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis to major in Visual Communications. I figured the knowledge I could get from this major would be incredibly beneficial for other parts of my business that I would have to hire people for. I like being completely in control of my look and there aren’t many people I trust with my name so it is important that I know how to do most of what involves my image.

What do you think will be one of the biggest trends for spring?

Oh a trend question! Well while it can be seen as difficult or easy to categorize what we saw in September and October, I think the mood of the industry right now is basically, find beautiful clothes that make you feel good and put you in a light and optimistic mood. I love that clothing can actually make you feel different about yourself. It’s interesting that when you buy a new piece of clothing you feel so excited to put it on and when you do you actually feel different about yourself in a positive way.

What does fashion mean to you?

To me fashion is kind of a stale word and I am not sure what it should be replaced with but to me when I hear the word fashion I think of some kind of contrived version of what people think fashion is. A bright runway with skinny models marching back and worth with big versace hair and mini skirts. So the best way I can answer this question is to say that it actually has nothing to do with the clothes physically. It has to do with how you feel in the clothing and that you can read how a person feels all over their face. You don’t buy an incredible piece of clothing to be clothed, you buy it because when you tried it on in the dressing room it made you feel good and you knew you couldn’t live without it. It just makes you feel good and confident.

Go behind the scenes: footage from Nathan’s lastest photo shoot:

I loved interviewing Nathan, he is so down to earth. I know Nathan has a fabulous future and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him! Don’t forget to visit Nathan’s Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nathangerard