Emily Thompson
Hometown: Jacksonville, NC
Email: emthom23@ncsu.edu & emt2004@live.com
Bio
Emily’s love for fashion began as a child, through styling Barbie and American Girl dolls with her sisters and spending hours on online styling games. She rediscovered her passion in high school through thrifting, where she developed an appreciation for secondhand shopping and the value of giving garments a second life. Her interest in upcycling grew further through her mother, a seamstress, who taught her to sew, mend, and transform clothes in her own closet. Emily now focuses on women’s ready-to-wear, with a particular interest in garment construction, fit, and the details that bring a design to life. After graduation, she hopes to pursue apparel design or technical design while continuing to build her own creative practice.
Collection Concept
Facing East is a personal reflection on the feeling of home. It draws on Emily’s childhood experiences in Japan and the natural environments that surrounded her. The title carries two meanings: Japan as a place to return to, and east as the direction of the rising sun–a symbol of awakening and finding peace within nature. The collection translates the designer’s memories into thoughtful, feminine silhouettes that balance structure with softness. Flowing layers, natural textures, subtle botanical details, and restrained colors reflect the quiet beauty of Japanese landscapes and interiors. Structured elements provide a sense of permanence, while fluid fabrics and movement evoke nature’s transient qualities. Facing East captures the atmosphere of a familiar place: calm, intentional, and deeply connected to nature, to help the wearer slow down, find beauty in simplicity, and carry a sense of home with her.