Student Artists Turning Skills to Service

Meet the student artists on campus who use their talents to satisfy your fashion demand.

By: Jennifer Gan

Photo By: Oscar Fang

Tailoring

The charm of vintage boutiques and thrift shops lies in the promise of discovering a one-of-a-kind piece of clothing that expresses one’s personality. What happens when the perfect item doesn’t fit as expected, though? This is when tailoring becomes a true lifesaver for people’s wardrobes.

Samantha Sanders (COM ‘26) moved into school with her sewing machine, hoping to do minor fixes for herself and her friends. Word travels fast, and now she offers services to the entire campus community, especially those who need affordable and last-minute clothing alterations. 

“It’s rewarding in that sense when you know you are really helping someone, even though it’s something so little like sewing,” Sanders said.

Piercing

Earrings, like clothing attire, are also a form of self-expression for college students. Whether it is a classic stud, gold hoops, or chain-linked huggies, people’s choice of earrings can say so much about their preferences and mood for the day. 

Tara Shahyalani (COM ‘25), who has around 20 piercings herself, got certified as a piercer while on a leave of absence last semester. Now, she wants to use her skills to benefit those who want a trendy and affordable piercing. 

“You go to a normal piercing place; it’s over 60 dollars for just one poke, and not everyone can afford that, so I just want to make it something affordable and accessible,” Shahyalani said. 

Tara also recently finished her Poke for Palestine project, where all of the proceeds from the pokes go to the Children’s Relief Fund of Palestine.

Designing Press-on Nails

Behind the glitz and glamour of celebrities’ magazine photo shoots, custom-made press-on nails have become an unspoken secret when it comes to complementing anyone’s ever-changing styles and outfits. 

“At least for me and some of my dance friends who got custom nails from me, it’s the best option,” Claudia Zhu (CAS ‘24) said. “There’s zero commitment, and it’s time-saving.” 

The moment Zhu fell in love with the versatility of these nails, she bought herself the tool kits needed for designing her own. Now, she uses her talent to make custom nails for her friends at a low price.