Lester Lefton Lester Lefton - Kent State University

A l u m n i A s s o c i at i o n
Kent State
Alumna
Laura Smith
Finds Success
in the Fashion
Industry
By Erin Sekerak,
Kent State graduate student
Laura Lynn Smith (Opfer), a Kent State University School of Fashion
Design and Merchandising graduate, is making her mark in the
fashion industry.
Smith, ’02, from North Ridgeville, Ohio, got her first big break
when she won the Kent State Fashion Design contest with Simplicity
patterns in 2001. The design of her own wedding dress won her
$1,000 and a trip to New York City. Her pattern sold so well with
Simplicity that the company re-photographed the dress and published
it in its spring 2006 catalog.
“I won the competition, and my design has been one of the topselling
patterns ever since,” Smith says. “I submitted a portfolio and
résumé last year to Simplicity just on a whim. Luckily they liked it and
decided to carry my line of gowns.”
Her collection of wedding dresses with Simplicity is called the Laura
Lynn Collection.
She says the structure and discipline she received at Kent State has
supplemented her success and has given her strength to strive to be the
best.
“Each day I’m committed to satisfying my bride’s expectations by
creating and unveiling the gown of her dreams made especially for her,
fitted perfectly and emphasizing her essence and beauty,” she says.
Smith credits Sharon “Suzy” Campbell of the costume department
as contributing to her achievements.
“She came to my rescue when I couldn’t get into junior classes because
I hadn’t completed a math prerequisite,” Smith says. “She allowed
me to take some of her graduate courses or I probably would have
given up and quit.”
Although Smith says she was on the verge of quitting, her best
advice to students is, “Don’t give up.” She also said it would be best for
Laura Smith
students “to establish a broad base of work experiences in a design area
that fits their abilities and potential.”
She hopes to continue designing for Simplicity and to expand the
Laura Lynn Collection. She is currently designing bridal gown embellishments
and trim and marketing them to Jo-Ann Fabrics.
Smith also has worked as a freelance designer with Bonne Bell,
Jo-Ann Fabrics and the Feldman Group before she signed a two-year
contract with Simplicity as a special occasion designer for the rights to
produce designs from the Laura Lynn Collection. In 2003 she went into
partnership and opened her own bridal shop called A Bride’s Design in
Westlake, Ohio.
She currently resides in North Ridgeville with her husband, Brian,
and infant daughter.
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