IU alumnus and Adidas senior apparel designer Cedric Hudson gave a free lecture to around 50 students at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union
Hudson graduated from IU in May 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in fashion design. He has worked for four different Adidas apparel teams such as Yeezy and Basketball.
“It’s all about style,” Hudson said. “How we can make the coolest yet functional products. How we can be creative in the industry.”
Hudson said sustainability is key, especially with the high amount of plastic usage in the fashion industry.
“It’s important for the future,” Hudson said. He said they are trying to be creative and are open to ideas regarding the issue, such as using recycled polyester materials to make their apparel.
Hudson said that it’s important to talk to fashion and apparel students about what it is like to work in the industry.
“If I can be the person who can shed the light on it, I would like to be that,” Hudson said. “To see somebody that is a designer and a person of color is really important."
The event featured a Q&A panel in which students asked Hudson questions.
He advised cutting down time on social media and listening to your surroundings. He said it’s important to take time to see what’s in front of you.
“You need that to see through answers that might not be seen,” Hudson said.
Deb Christiansen, Hudson’s former fashion design professor, invited him to lecture because she said she wanted him to share how he became a designer and talk about the ability to predict trends that people are interested in.
“He’s a natural,” Christiansen said. "He’s just a great role model."
Senior Sariah Borom, who is minoring in fashion design, said she came to the event because of her interest in fashion. She said she thought the lecture was inspiring and that she found the advice useful for her future endeavors.
“It really inspires me,” Borom said.
