Sam Koziarz-Catz
Designer: Sam Koziarz-Catz
Hometown: New Bern, NC
Email: koziarzsamuel@gmail.com
Collection Title: The Lethal Bloom
Bio
Sam Koziarz-Catz began his journey into fashion at just eight years old, during a visit to the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Captivated by the artistry and storytelling behind each garment, Sam returned home inspired to start sketching designs and experimenting with ways to bring his creative ideas to life.
From an early fascination with avant-garde fashion and dramatic silhouettes, Sam developed a design perspective that celebrates bold form, structure, and emotion. In high school, he learned to sew through an apprenticeship at an alteration store and gained a strong foundation in craftsmanship and construction.
That hands-on experience led Sam to the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, where technical expertise and creative exploration came together to shape a distinct design identity. Now completing his senior collection, Sam continues to push the balance between innovation and artistry. Looking ahead, he hopes to pursue opportunities in couture eveningwear and costume design that will allow for visual storytelling through craftsmanship, detail, and dramatic expression.
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Collection Concept
The Lethal Bloom is a couture collection meant to embody the duality of nature, being both dangerous and alluring. Inspired by the vibrant seduction of tropical plants and the savage beauty of carnivorous flora, these gowns are for the femme fatale.
The women who wear these designs are as untouchable as they are mesmerizing, and the power of their confidence matches the edge of their clothing. They are untamed, command attention, and carry just a hint of danger in their gaze.
The dichotomy of nature’s fluidity and rigidness is explored in this collection, using spiked embellishments and structured bodies made with upholstery fabric, along with draped skirts and cascading, silky textures. All these features blend to create a sensation of nature’s allure.