Quinan Dalton, a senior studying art and design at NC State, had always been interested in fashion and design and that aspiration has now turned into her reality. After high school, Dalton attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. Here she interned at a design business called Parker. The business only employed about 15 people at the time; nevertheless, the experience taught her that being a student was far different from being an employee.

After two years at FIT, Dalton obtained her associate’s degree and decided to head back home to Raleigh. Although FIT is located in one of the fashion capitals of the world, she believed that NC State would give her an entirely different experience. Dalton described FIT as “rigid.” She wanted the feeling of belonging to a larger community and more freedom to let her creativity flow. NC State gave her the opportunity to grow and explore as a designer and use her knowledge to express herself.

“It’s about honing in on your aesthetic and finding what you’re good at,” Dalton said.

This freedom allowed Dalton to start a business called Urban Core Collective, a collaboration that started after she created a dress for herself. Dalton’s friend, Evan Smith, said it was a dress that people would buy. After this realization, the two formed a collaboration using Dalton’s clothing and Smith’s jewelry.

“We never expected to be so invested in it,” said Evan Smith, a junior studying Art and Design. “It was just something for us to do over the summer while we didn’t have class.”

Urban Core Collective began with only the two of them and has now grown to a group of students looking to sell their products.

“It’s like if each person had their own website on one interface,” Smith said.

The business is used as a platform for students at NC State to sell items and designs that would otherwise not provide a stable job. All of the students that are contributing to the business are design students at NC State. Dalton and Smith both plan on keeping it this way in order to promote not only design students but NC State as a whole.

“People that are established don’t need any help,” Smith said. “It allows students to have a sort of encouragement for their passion.”

Dalton described Urban Core Collective as an Etsy-like shop where she and Smith could each have their own brand. The two plan for more people to join their business and add to the shop’s collection. This allows for more variety of items, rather than only selling clothing or jewelry.

Into addition to Urban Core Collective, Dalton has done a plethora of other things. Last year, her collection “Kingdom” was showcased in the Art 2 Wear fashion show held in the Talley Student Union. Dalton used the house she grew up in as inspiration for this collection. She wanted the pieces to emit a sense of childhood wonder; she portrayed it as imagining yourself as a king or a queen, and using that child-like fantasy to design an outfit. She plans on showcasing another collection in this year’s Art 2 Wear show as well.

Art 2 Wear is the only fashion show that a full collection of Dalton’s clothing has been featured in. She intends on changing that during Charleston Fashion Week in March. Rather than only having to present six pieces, Dalton will be required to present a minimum of 12.

Aside from fashion shows, Dalton sells her collections through a number of different vendors and markets. She works for Kristen Austen who is the owner of Raleigh Makers Market; her pieces can often be found here, and among other places such as Gypsy Jule and Roundabout Art Collective.

From graduating from FIT with an associate’s degree to being chosen to participate in the Art 2 Wear fashion show, Dalton has a lot of talent and experience under her belt. She claims to have a few people to owe an amount of her success to. Although Dalton mentioned many professors that have inspired her and kept her motivated throughout her time here at NC State, she says Art and Design Assistant Professor Kat Diuguid knows her the best.

“I have known Quinan since she was at FIT and looking to transfer to NC State,” Diuguid said. “She is a very talented student.”

Diuguid had no part in helping Dalton to create any of her collections, but she did mention that she talked her through aesthetic decisions and encouraged her to learn couture techniques.

“Quinan is into high fashion and couture,” Smith said. “She wants her designs to be next level, unattainable.”

It seems that Dalton took Diuguid’s advice to heart.

Smith and Dalton incorporate their high-fashion ambitions into their designs for Urban Core Collective. As a business catering to local vendors, they attempt to keep an eye on current fashion trends, and especially trends around Raleigh and NC State. Smith disclosed that their current trend involves pineapples and cacti — no surprise to the fashion world. They organize their products into collections such as a fall or spring collection in order for items to possibly be sold in bulk.

“Each person’s products drive up the sales of others,” Smith said. “We really appreciate people at NC State supporting the business.”

Although product sales are definitely a bonus, a passion for design is what really sparked their need to invest into the business.

“I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing and doing art,” Dalton said.

A version of this article appeared in print on September 12, 2016, on page 11 with the headline: “Student Designer talks Urban Core Collective.”