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A young designer who is full of energy, has a sense of humor, loves comfort and style, while remaining practical has launched her first collection.

Nicole Messina, a fresh graduate of Parsons the New School for Design likes to call her collection “low-Fi Technology.” She describes the technology as, the “simplest form of technology, so the consumer is not intimidated.”

The active-wear collection is made by performance fabrics.

“Performance fabrics are a great example of this technology,“ the creative designer explains. “Say wicking sweat, it’s already part of the outfit and the wearer doesn’t even have to think about it.”

Keeping in mind that it‘s important to put personality into her collection, the dynamic designer displayed her traits. “I used the crash test dummies airbrushed graphics to offer a little light hearted and witty humor in the collection and the bright racing colors to keep the collection exciting and energetic.”

Growing up, the young talent disliked the concept of having to be either a “tomboy” or a “girly girl.” That attitude is demonstrated in her collection that is stylishly comfortable for “the strong, independent girl on the go … no matter what errands or activities she has to accomplish ...Why not wear fashionable clothing that is equipped to keep you dry all day?” she explains.

Stella McCartney’s energetic and chic insertion to Adidas, Japanse designer Yohji Yamamoto’s contemporary sports wear with a unique touch to Adidas, Originals by Originals’ street fashion, and Alexander Wang’s simplicity, use of color, texture and “the fact that there is always an edgy, sporty feel” are all what the vibrant designer would like to be in the future. Her first collection already has a mixed affect and an obvious influence by these great designers.

Her desire to work in a creative, fast paced, and continuously challenging field, has led the young artist to fashion designing. Her love for clothing was the reason she studied fashion designing. But as she got deeper into the whole process and recognizing the depth of it; she became more sure that this was the career path for her, especially after her sophomore year when she started seeing dramatic improvements while taking academically advanced classes. She was then given an opportunity to study in Paris her junior year, where she learned to take risks, explore the designer within herself and be creative.

“This was so different from Parsons in NYC where you were asked to push out an incredible amount of designs in a short amount of time. I went to Paris because I wanted to mix the elegant couture/drapery techniques used by European designers with the American sportswear sensibility of comfort and function,“ the developing designer said in an e-mail interview.

Fashion isn’t Messina’s only love. “I have always had a love for marketing and business” she said.  She has a marketing diploma from the Seacost School of Technology in New Hemisphere.

We all know creativity alone doesn’t pay the bills and so does the cultivating designer.

“I believe it is so important to have a balance between the two because even if you have the most brilliant idea, if you can’t sell the idea to someone or convince them it’s brilliant, then you may as well not have the idea!“

The fresh graduate has recently moved to Boston to work for an apprentice to Reebok International in Canton, Massachusetts working with women’s lifestyle clothing. She’s very excited and happy to work for the company because “Reebok thrives on the concept of the individual a concept I full-heartedly stand by,“ the developing designer said.

Messina has participated in the Underground Runway Show last May with her colleagues and said that she is proud of herself and her colleagues for organizing and making the show happen all on their own and with the help of donations. She has not sold her first collection but is working on creating her line of clothing in her free time, “because I don’t want to lose my vision or any new ideas,“ she adds.

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