In the four years since Anthony Nam graduated with a merchandising and fashion design degree, his experience and practical know-how have afforded him many incredible opportunities. Nam helped fabricate the halo that American singer-songwriter Beyoncé wore during a concert in Dubai. The halo was a massive brass headpiece adorned with Swarovski crystals. He’s worked on clothing and accessories for New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, World Tour and some of the industry’s top musicians and artists. Nam is a production manager and assistant designer for CHRISHABANA, designer and jeweler in New York. That’s an impressive resume for a young professional who didn’t even have fashion on his radar when he enrolled at Missouri State.
Missouri State’s influence
Nam’s parents emigrated to Rogers, Arkansas, after the Vietnam War. He chose Missouri State because it was the furthest he could go without upsetting his family, and enrolled as a broadcast journalism major. At MSU, Nam was branding chair at Pi Kappa Phi, president of Fraternity and Sorority Leaders for Social Awareness, and public relations chair for Relay For Life. “I redesigned a new pin jacket that we get when we are initiated in Pi Kappa Phi, with a soft shell style jacket that is customized to each individual member. So that was my first inkling of the fashion interest without even realizing it,” he said. Nam had a side passion for photography and took photos for Pi Kappa Phi and some that appeared in Sartorial Magazine, MSU’s student-run culture and fashion magazine. b“I decided it’s cool that I’m taking photographs of fashion. I really like that space. Maybe I should try and see what the fashion design space is and what that curriculum is like,” Nam said. After one class, he was hooked. He was also a natural with the sewing machine and loved the program. “Missouri State gives students opportunities to be able to do different projects and collaborate with each other,” he said. “We were all very close-knit and our professors were almost second parents to us. Mrs. Bailey, Dr. Roberts and Dr. Starr fostered relationships with their students. They set an example and pushed us to have a good work ethic. I love them to death.” Another strength of the program is the professional networking opportunities students receive. Students travel to New York City to network with alumni and fashion designers. Nam went prepared. He intended to land a job or internship and was dressed for an interview, which he received. After graduation, he moved to New York and was at work two days later.
Starting his new life
Nam has held a variety of positions in the Big Apple. He started in a sewing school, which helped his sewing skills. One opportunity built upon another. He worked with Christian Cowan, another designer, for New York Fashion Week where he made many connections. When Nam had a rush job for designer Pamela Dennis, he called Brianna Swanson, another Bear who had just moved to New York, for assistance. “A lot of it ties back to Missouri State because I like to give opportunity back to where a lot of my experience came from, so I called an alumna from our program,” he said. The dress was a hit. In December 2021, he got a chance to work with CHRISHABANA. A musical artist was about to appear on Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve show and she needed a custom dress asap. It was the holiday season and the job required long hours, but Nam was in. Something that has helped him make an impression is what he calls his “Midwestern grit.” “We talked about that in our program, one key factor that stood out to internship coordinators or bosses, was that there was a drive (among Bears) to want to do everything they can,” he said. “In New York, a lot of students have so many opportunities that it’s not necessarily something they have to fight for. I’m driven to do anything and everything I can to make sure that I am standing out.” It was a great experience and he bonded with CHRISHABANA while working on the project. “That was a good defining moment for me because it had only been a few years since I had left Missouri State. And I didn’t think I would be in the position that I was at working with the people that I was working with as quickly as I was,” Nam said. CHRISHABANA collaborates with many designers and celebrities for custom fashion pieces, including jewelry, apparel and accessories for runway shows. Nam was part of the team responsible for designing the outfit for American rapper Doja Cat’s Taco Bell Superbowl LVI commercial. It involved animatronics which was a great experience for Nam. He is responsible for hiring designers with different skills to freelance for projects and he’s hired a few Missouri State grads, some are his top freelancers.
Future
Nam is part of a group of designers showcasing their work at Kansas City Fashion Week this fall. Alumna Briana Miller, designer and owner of A.Muse Mixx, presented her collection at Kansas City Fashion Week last spring and that sparked his interest in applying to the show. His creations are heavily inspired by utilitarian design and cinematic storytelling in a space age environment. Everything he’s done in New York has been a steppingstone to the next job, and his vision of the industry is ever-changing. “Before I wanted to just be famous and have a line,” Nam said. “Now I realize there’s so much more I can do. I want to work on a movie franchise one day. I want to do an art installation. I want to associate myself more as a multimedia designer, because we work in many different mediums with so many different artists that work in a million mediums from airbrushing to 3D modeling to woodworking. There are so many things that you can do. It’s very exciting.”