Meet Laura Finley Hasenbank of Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Finley Hasenbank

Hi Laura Finley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Laura Finley (double name, very southern of me) and I study fashion design in the O’More College of Architecture and Design at Belmont University. I just moved back to Nashville after spending the summer in New York City as a fashion design intern. I’m currently designing my senior thesis collection that will consist of 8 unique looks. I’ve dreamt about my senior collection since I stepped foot into the design studios at O’More and it’s hard to believe it’s finally here! I’m so proud of the ways I’ve stretched and grown as a designer and I’m so excited to share more about how I got to where I am today.

I grew up in Houston, Texas for the first eight years of my life. If there was one indication that I would grow into a creative, it would be my Mama. She is designer and whether it was illustrating designs on stationary for her own business or curating an interior with antiques she hunted down, she has been cultivating a space of creativity ever since I can remember. As a child, I spent my time in our craft room throwing glitter around, creating scenes with my American Girl Dolls, or you could find me changing my outfit for the third time in a day. I have always been extremely expressive through my facial expressions and outfits alike and I never shied away from wearing a tutu to the grocery store if that’s what I felt like for the day.

In 2012, we moved to a farm in Franklin, Tennessee. My greatest hesitation prior to the move was the lack of shopping I anticipated in Tennessee. As a lover of fashion, great clothes and fashion inspiration was a requirement even at age eight. To my surprise, just 20 minutes down the road, Nashville held many stores that sparked my interest. I continued to dress freely and style myself as I always had, but also incorporate farm boots into my look while running out to collect the chicken eggs.

When the time came to decide on my future career plans and choose a college, I knew that pursing a creative major was always going to be apart of the plan. Unlike most fashion design students, I wasn’t always aware that I would go into design, but I was incredibly aware of my need to work hands-on and in a creative space. The day I toured the design studios at Belmont University, I could not envision myself anywhere else and I knew that my future was going to be rooted in fashion.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, it’s been an amazing journey growing as a designer, but that’s not to say there haven’t been a few challenges along the way. My greatest challenge as a designer is my own self doubt. I think I speak for many creatives when I say that creating art in any form can feel vulnerable. There have been projects that I’ve stared at for too long and all that I start to see at the uneven stitches or the imperfections in my design choices. I can be hard on myself at times because I care so deeply about my work, but a beautiful thing I’ve learned is that most people don’t see the imperfections that I do.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My design style is timeless and elegant. The pieces I design push boundaries in quieter ways but they make their statement through thoughtful details and intentional fabrication. I design clothes that give women the freedom to embrace their femininity. As a young girl, I fell in love with the feeling of wearing a dress that made me feel beautiful. Capturing that essence and allowing those who wear my designs to feel the same way is so important to me. I love fabric, and most of my textile choices are natural materials including silk, linen, or cotton. Not only are they more sustainable, but these fibers are comfortable on the skin. I’m proud of how I embrace femininity through my design work and empower women to do the same.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think my enthusiasm is key to my success. Fashion design is a lengthy process. I start with a concept, then sketch it out on paper. I take that sketch and illustrate it in more detail on my computer. Next, I drape and draft my design which takes a lot of math and concentration. Once my patterns are complete, I make my first mockup of my design. After I perfect the mockup and adjust my patterns, I move onto the final design. What most people don’t see, is all of the hours that goes into the final garment. Everyday, I do my best to show up to the studio fully present. I often think back to my younger self, because I’m still as passionate about fashion as I was when I was a little girl and that excitement for what I do keeps me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurafinleydesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurafinleydesign/