Artist Biography
Haley Stefaniak is a senior graphic design major with a studio art minor. She is originally from Vermont, and grew up with a consistent passion for drawing & painting. She served as the president of her high school’s National Arts Honor Society, and it was her faculty advisor and high school art teacher that introduced her to the field of graphic design.
Learning about graphic design opened a world of possibilities for Haley. She was eager to pursue a career in the arts, but not confident it would support her later in life. Graphic design resolved any of her doubts, a growing industry combining problem solving, art, and offering so many different avenues to pursue. At Endicott, it only took one semester for her to know she made the right choice. She has loved every moment and continues to create more traditional art through her minor, as well. Haley looks forward to returning to the greater Boston area after graduating to start her professional career and continue her artistic ventures on the side.
Thesis Abstract
Malachite is a sustainable fashion company rooted in education, honesty, and luxury. The brand combines an elevated identity & shopper experience with environmental consciousness & exclusivity. The company operates by collecting used clothing from donors and transforming the fabric into one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. It aligns itself with exclusive designers in an effort to appeal to a wealthier audience and remove stigma around second-hand shopping. Their platform & status is used to educate the greater population on the environmental damages caused by overconsumption in the fashion industry and the harm of fast-fashion brands.
Through a points system and donor incentives, clothing would over time become accessible to loyal consumers. Donors could use their points in-store or to obtain exclusive items not offered to the general public, however clothing itself would be available for anybody to purchase. Aspects like color palette, imagery, and typography reinforce the company’s stance against fast-fashion. The green remains avant-garde but still ties back to nature, and the name Malachite, deriving from the wing color of the Malachite butterfly species itself. Using the symbol of the butterfly, and the malachite stone, the brand represents transformation, luxurious treatment of the planet Earth, and self-responsibility.