Senior Halle Baerenstecher has shown that fashion does not have to come at the cost of the environment. With the success of her company, Upcycled Denim, Halle is excited to bring her passion for sustainability to product design after graduation.

Tell me a little bit about your journey to the Academy?

Growing up, I was deeply involved in the fine arts and sciences. In high school, I narrowed my interest to sculpture, then moved into fashion design with an emphasis on sustainability. I had a hard time finding a major encompassing my interests when applying to college, but was pointed to the Academy by Ashley Pakzaban from my high school (Cohort 4). The Academy offered the interdisciplinary education and the freedom to pursue my own projects that I was looking for, so I set my sights on joining Cohort 5 my senior year.

What piece of advice have you implemented in your day to day life?

Be humble and learn from those around you. Don’t feel like you need to go into a project or internship feeling like you know everything already. Keep an open mind and try to learn from those who have more experience than you.

Describe one thing most people don’t know about you?

Meditation and alone time are very valuable to me, especially when balancing social and school.

What’s one thing your parents taught you that you’d like to share?

My parents told me to have patience with my career path and to keep an open mind.  This piece of advice has pushed me to put my all into every project so I can get the most out of it. Every experience will provide you with value and will apply to your next project. Your first internship or job is a stepping stone to your dream job(s).

What is the biggest risk you have taken and was the result what you wished for?

Investing my savings (which was not a lot!) with a producer during my freshman year summer to make the first batch of jeans for my company Upcycled Denim. I came out of that summer making a profit in the end, which was very exciting and a success in my eyes.

What would you say is your defining achievement thus far?

I really don’t think I have had a defining achievement in 21 years of life so far. I have had a lot of exciting moments such as getting into the Academy, launching the Upcycled Denim site, and winning the Judge’s Choice Award in Lavalab.  An agglomeration of achievements, and those yet to come, are how I hope to be defined. For example, I am looking forward to developing my Garage Experience (Gx) project and seeing where that will take my team and me. 

Go to as many events as you can —  speakers, socials, etc. It is important to stay involved and motivated in your class or personal projects. You can meet incredible contacts at events the Academy puts on, and those professionals can connect you to even more people who are attuned to your interests. Apply yourself as much as you can!

How have you evolved over the past four years?

I came into the Academy mainly passionate about fashion sustainability and material science, but these past four years have opened my eyes to so many new opportunities, whether it be internships or clubs like Lavalab. After experiencing work in different fields, I have broadened my interests, not solely diving deeper into fashion. I have found that I love the process of developing products beyond garments. I now focus on developing products in a variety of fields that have a positive impact on people and the environment.

Post-graduation, I want to continue bringing products to life with a team that is as supportive and inspiring as my cohort in the Academy. I feel so lucky to have been surrounded by such an amazing group of individuals these four years and I want to find something similar after graduation.

The people in my classes and the friends I see everyday. 

YouTube or Pinterest – two sites to find and organize my inspiration.

CTPR 496: The Film Industry: Career Challenges and Choices for Women is definitely one of my favorite classes at USC.  Women from all different sectors of film come to speak candidly about their positive and negative experiences in the industry every week. I feel like I got a real insight into work life, and the teacher, Bonnie Bruckheimer, really cares about your future path. 

Aralda, which is one of my favorite vintage stores next to Beachwood Cafe. Make sure to do the Hollywoodland Stairs hike when over there!

If you had to get a tattoo what would you get and why?

I don’t know what tattoo I would get, but I would get one matching with my little sister because I love feeling connected to her wherever I am.

Fashion does not have to come at the cost of the environment, and senior Halle Baerenstecher has shown that sustainable fashion is exactly what is in.

Senior Spotlight: Halle Baerenstecher

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