Meet The Student Designer: Erik Dibos
Erik Dibos is a fashion designer from Chicago, currently completing his Bachelor’s degree in fashion. His work focuses on construction, storytelling, and attention to detail — approaching design as a way to explore how lived experience, personal narrative, and emotional context shape the way we design and wear clothes.
He works through ideas by researching, sketching, and exploring materials—letting the concept guide how the piece takes shape. His final-year collection looks at the link between music and memory, using texture and interactive elements to bring sound to life in a physical form.
Erik is especially drawn to garment construction and textiles, often blending traditional techniques with subtle modern touches. His focus is on making garments that feel considered, functional, and connected to their narrative.
Sustainability plays a central role in his approach. For Erik, it’s not just about material choices—it’s about designing with intention, using what’s already available when possible, and extending the life and relevance of a garment beyond trend cycles. He sees sustainability as a way to respect both the craft and the people who interact with it.
Outside of fashion, Erik has an amateur background in photography, which he uses to document his work and explore visual storytelling. This shapes the way he approaches presentation, paying close attention to how garments are seen, worn, and understood.
He’s interested in design that carries meaning in subtle ways, allowing the work to speak for itself.
