Artist Biography
Heather Oxsen is a senior at Endicott College who will be graduating this spring with a BFA in Graphic Design. Born and raised in the coastal town of Plymouth, MA, Heather has always felt at home by the ocean. She loves a lazy beach day with a good book, thrifting for just about anything, hanging out with her dog Athena, or grabbing an iced coffee at her favorite cafe. Heather has always been inspired by art, as she grew up watching her late grandmother Theresa paint, draw, and needlepoint. Through years of dance classes and D.I.Y art projects, Heather always sought an outlet for her creativity. In her freshman year of high school, she joined the Graphic Design and Visual Communication Technical Program, where she fell in love with the art of design. Over the next 8 years, Heather’s passion only grew stronger, as she pushed herself academically and developed her skillset artistically. Through three professional internships, a semester abroad, and multiple academic courses, Heather has developed and implemented a love for clean and elevated design style. After graduation, Heather hopes to pursue a career in brand identity, where she can help clients bring their passions to life.
Check out her portfolio at https://heatheroxsen.wixsite.com/hoxsen
Connect with her through email: [email protected]
Thesis Abstract
EverThread is a second-hand consignment shop focused on making reused clothing more approachable while informing consumers about the environmental impacts of the fashion industry. Not only do I want to educate the public, but I also want to be an advocate for change. My store will influence consumers to shop more sustainably and inspire businesses to adopt more eco-friendly practices. EverThread draws inspiration from a combination of local consignment shops and curated upscale boutiques. My store will be a place where people can shop retail, reduce their carbon footprint, and assist in fighting Earth’s environmental crisis.
The life cycle of clothing is getting shorter as consumers are buying and disposing of clothing quicker than ever before. To keep up with this consumer demand, mass-market fashion brands now utilize a production process known as “fast fashion”. With mass production and consumerism, the “fast-fashion” industry is causing major environmental issues and utilizing inhumane labor laws. In an effort to combat the effects of fast fashion, my clothing boutique would allow for clothing to be reused, reloved, and kept out of landfills. The clean and elevated design style of my brand offers a fresh perspective on second-hand shopping, as it aims to eliminate the negative associations that come with reused clothing.
Thank you to my family, friends, and faculty members who have supported me throughout this challenging yet rewarding process.