About Collection 1

“Ezra Ketter Smith” is an extension of my creative vision within the realm of clothing. Over the past year or so I have discovered many things about clothing both from social experiences and my journey sewing. Most impactfully, on a vacation over winter break I had the chance to wear clothing specifically designed for holidays. The feeling I had wearing those vibrant pieces on a warm, sunny beach next to the ocean was a feeling I had never felt before, and that feeling was only possible because of the clothing. This experience lead me to realize something; clothing can be specifically designed to elicit a certain feeling. I had always known that clothes could give you confidence or help you fit into a certain subgroup, but the idea of the specificity of design had never really occurred to me in the past. 

Because of this newfound ability I found in clothing, I wanted to try my hand at creating a collection that gave the feeling of peace and respite; almost as if you are wearing a deep breath. I have worn many different brands in my life, but most of them share one thing in common: they wanted to appear as the “it thing” in fashion. Many of the fashion content I see coming out of designer fashion houses all the way down to independent creators on social media boils down to, “how can I make something that looks cool that people will talk about?” I see this most clearly with the emphasis on public appeal, where brands will stick to creating only things that will attract shares and reposts. By all means, I wanted to create something that people would want to wear, but the widespread acceptance of the garments was at the end of my priority list far behind the emphasis on the feelings the clothes evoked. 

Ultimately to achieve this feeling of respite I used fabrics, cuts, and designs that I thought would accent the feeling most appropriately. Many pieces in this first collection have either been constructed out of a supple cotton or a lightweight linen which are the perfect fabrics for spring and summer, and the natural relaxation that comes with it. Similarly, the color palette used in this collection also compliments the theme well, with mostly neutral tones like beiges and creams. The design ideas behind this collection were intended to foster a sense of community and togetherness instead of individuality. I want you to feel like you are part of this collection when you wear a piece. This was reached by designing the pieces as one size fits most. Every garment has the ability to be adjusted to whatever the intended fit of the wearer is. This includes hats and bags all the way to shorts and pants. 

As I look through social media, the news, and my own residence, it is apparent people are suffering from division and stress. Though it is not a direct way to address this problem, I think clothing can still serve the purpose of easing the mind. Regardless of if it works or not, it's worth a shot. This  collection Is my first attempt at creating clothing in any physical capacity. I have worked hours on end and sacrificed time, money, energy and even my health to make this happen, and I am so happy with the result. I am hoping you all can appreciate it in the same way that I do. This idea and philosophy is the backbone of the first collection, but moving forward it will still be ever present in the Ezra Ketter Smith brand identity regardless of what I am designing. -e