Mainland High student breaks into fashion industry

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Former Ormond Beach resident Jade Eppelheimer is nearing her first year as a fashion designer for Macy’s.

Some people might assume all the fashion designer does is sketch, but Jade Eppelheimer wants to set the record straight.

“It’s lot of background work,” Eppelheimer, a designer for Macy’s, said.”You have to think outside the box to create a certain look for a certain customer, not for yourself.”

Former Ormond Beach resident and Mainland High School graduate, Eppelheimer currently works in New York City designing sleepwear for Alfoni and Morgan Taylor Intimates. Though she’s always loved fashion, Eppelheimer didn’t realize she wanted to make it her career until her sophomore year of college. “I always enjoyed styling,” Eppelheimer said. “I loved fashion and my mom always had a great sense of style so I learned a lot from her. I knew at that point in college that I wanted to pursue fashion but I didn’t know what to expect. You want to believe it is a certain way but it’s different once you get in the industry.”

She attended Daytona State College and graduated from Florida State University in 2008. She then landed an internship making sleepwear for Oscar de la Renta which got her a start in the fashion industry. Eventually, Eppelheimer wants to break out of the sleepwear designing and get into ready-to-wear fashion.

“I want to continue to grow as a designer and become a design director for a major brand,” Eppelheimer said. “One of my favorites is Marc Jacobs. I don’t exactly why, but I’ve always been attracted to his clothes.”

Though she loves her New York lifestyle, Eppelheimer said there are definitely a few elements she misses from home.

“There’s this great laid back vibe,” she said.”When I go home its a different type of atmosphere. I don’t feel obligated to dress a certain way. I can relax and I’m not always on the move.”