Halle Minton

Excerpts from an Interview with the Designer

Recorded on: March 22 2023

Tell me about your collection!

I came up with my concept about a year ago, and it all started because of a church hymn called In the Garden, it's my mom's favorite church hymn. It talks about walking into this garden, there’s dew still on the roses and just leans into that blossoming of faith, as you walk with Jesus. So that's where the original concept came from. I dove into the musical aspect of finding different songs that talked about similar ideas. That’s where the basis of it is. The collection is all about a journey of growth, and how you blossom as you get into your faith.

It starts out simple, and then the silhouettes begin to grow and grow, and get more like flower-esque. With little details like jewels, imitating the dew on the roses.

How is this journey of growth reflected in your collection?

Personally for me, I had grown up going to church my whole life. But when I came to college it wasn’t just a part of routine anymore, it was something I wanted to do. And so that's when I really got invested into my faith, and I felt like I really began to blossom because of that. I want this collection to not only reflect my ongoing faith journey but show what’s possible to others that are beginning theirs.

How have you been working with color?

It’s an all bridal collection, which is also my main focus category-wise. I really love evening gowns, bridal, that's where I want to go with my career long term. And so it will be all monochromatic to keep it in that bridal realm.

What has been your favorite part of the process so far?

Probably the ideation and illustration process, just getting the concept visually ready. I'm beginning to work on fashion fabric and I'm enjoying finally seeing it come to life. I got a little hint of that in mockups, but working on fashion fabrics, it's really exciting to see my ideas.

Have you thought about how the audience will receive this collection?

I would say they may not understand the greater, deeper concept, but that's why I wanted that easier concept to grasp visually of growth, because I feel that through my silhouettes you can see a very clear pattern of growth throughout them. So while there is a deeper meaning to it, there's also that very generalized theme of growth.

What is fashion to you?

One of my main values as a designer is evoking confidence in whoever I'm putting my garment on. That’s also why I have such a passion for bridal because I think that would be so special, to be a part of someone's big day and make them feel confident in what they're wearing to arguably live one of the most important days of their life.

Not only was In the Garden one of Halle’s mom’s favorite church hyms, it was also her grandma Wa’s favorite. Wanda, or as Halle called her Wa, passed away just a few weeks ago. Halle says that this occurrence has made this collection just more of a testimony to God’s grace and strength because of this. “If it weren’t for God’s calming presence; this collection, the grieving of my grandma, or both simultaneously would not be possible.” Halle would like to dedicate this collection to her grandma, Wa, and the amazing life she lived.