We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Schmidt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects that I have worked on is one that I recently worked on and happens to be my biggest projects. This past Fall/Winter I had the opportunity to create a gown for the Grammys! Earlier in the year, 3x Billboard Top 10 Blues Albums artist Katie Knipp asked me if I wanted to make her dress for the Grammys so I of course I said yes! We have actually known each other for over 10 years and her husband was my manager at a coffee shop while in undergrad. Fun fact: we actually share the same last name :) This is what made my experience so much more special. Not only did I have the opportunity to create a gown for the Grammys (my dream!!), I was also making it for another artist that I have seen grow throughout the years.
Throughout the design process and fittings, I really got to know Katie’s vibe and style and my main goal was to show that through the design. I wanted to the gown to feel like her and for her radiate in it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I started out at CSU, Sacramento where I majored in Apparel Marketing & Design with a B.S degree. The program was mostly based around the business aspect of fashion, so once I graduated I decided that I wanted to focus solely on design. I then went onto the Academy of Art in San Francisco where I received my M.F.A degree in Fashion Design. After I graduated from the Academy of Art, I then moved to NYC to do a fashion internship with Walter Baker as well as a costume design apprenticeship. Once my internship was done, I decided that I wanted to go to LA where I worked for a luxury watch company and did wardrobe for a film. Later, I decided that I wanted to go back to San Francisco and that was where my collection JenniferSSchmidt Collection was birthed! In 2012, that was when I started working with Owen Geronimo, the producer of SFFAMA and continued to work with him over the years. My debut was creating some Jean Paul Gaultier inspired looks for a fashion show at the opening of his exhibition at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. I then presented my first collection during the first SF Design Week, then a couple years later at SF Fashion Week, participated in various projects, speaking engagements, and judging fashion shows.
Then in 2016, I was on the Advisory Board for the Fashion program at CSU, Sacramento. In 2017, I participated in the ‘Talon Zips’ design contest by Talon Zippers and won the competition! 2019, I presented my collection at NYFW and then at the end of 2020-2022 became a resident designer for Ivan Bitton Style House. In 2021, I was commissioned by a friend to create a jacket for ‘Outrageous Pumpkins’ that he would be a contestant on and this past year made another jacket for him for a carving event at the NY Botanical Gardens. Then, recently created a Grammy gown for 3x Billboard Top 10 Blues Albums artist Katie Knipp!
Originally, I started out soley as a womenswear designer but now design for both men and women! I have designed custom womenswear, bridal, plus-size, menswear, formal wear, accessories, western stage wear, and believe that’s what sets me apart. I’m always up for a challenge and want to be accessible to everyone!
What I am most proud of is that I never gave up on myself and always pushed forward even when it felt hard. I always want to learn, so I love when I can take on a challenge because they it gives me the opportunity to grow. Some advise I would like to tell anyone pursuing their dreams is, believe in yourself because you if don’t then who will, and be bold enough to go after your dreams!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I was in grad school at the Academy of Art I had to work full-time in order to support myself, so I was unable to fully commit myself to my school work. Which unfortunately resulted in me not doing my best. One day when the fashion director of the program was looking at my portfolio, he told me that I would never make it in fashion. That I would make it in fashion illustration. I remember going to see fashion illustrator David Downtown when he came to our school to talk. One thing that he said, is that he did terrible in school but wasn’t until he got out into the industry where he found what he was good at. I thought to myself, “That is me.” What the director said stuck with me and even to this day and has fueled my fire in many ways. It taught me to believe in myself, to never give up, and keep learn how to become better.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to share my story and hopefully inspire others as well. It is most satisfying being able to share how you view the world through clothing and it not being so literal. If you search hard enough, you may see where inspiration comes from.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennifers-schmidt.com
• Instagram: jennifersschmidt_collection
• Facebook: JenniferSSchmidt
• Other: Pinterest: @JenniferSSchmidtCollection TikTok: @jss_collection

Image Credits
Katie Knipp Alan Silva Sunny Anderson