Kent State Alumna Laura Smith Finds Success in the Fashion Industry
By Erin Sekerak
Kent State graduate student

Laura Lynn Smith (Opfer), a Kent State University School of Fashion Design and Merchandising graduate, is making her mark in the fashion industry.

Smith, ’02, from North Ridgeville, Ohio, got her first big break when she won the Kent State Fashion Design contest with Simplicity patterns in 2001. The design of her own wedding dress won her $1,000 and a trip to New York City. Her pattern sold so well with Simplicity that the company re-photographed the dress and published it in its spring 2006 catalog.

“I won the competition, and my design has been one of the top-selling patterns ever since,” Smith says. “I submitted a portfolio and résumé last year to Simplicity just on a whim. Luckily they liked it and decided to carry my line of gowns.”

Her collection of wedding dresses with Simplicity is called the Laura Lynn Collection.

She says the structure and discipline she received at Kent State has supplemented her success and has given her strength to strive to be the best.

“Each day I’m committed to satisfying my bride’s expectations by creating and unveiling the gown of her dreams made especially for her, fitted perfectly and emphasizing her essence and beauty,” she says.

Smith credits Sharon “Suzy” Campbell of the costume department as contributing to her achievements.

“She came to my rescue when I couldn’t get into junior classes because I hadn’t completed a math prerequisite,” Smith says. “She allowed me to take some of her graduate courses or I probably would have given up and quit.”

Although Smith says she was on the verge of quitting, her best advice to students is, “Don’t give up.” She also said it would be best for students “to establish a broad base of work experiences in a design area that fits their abilities and potential.”

She hopes to continue designing for Simplicity and to expand the Laura Lynn Collection. She is currently designing bridal gown embellishments and trim and marketing them to Jo-Ann Fabrics.

Smith also has worked as a freelance designer with Bonne Bell, Jo-Ann Fabrics and the Feldman Group before she signed a two-year contract with Simplicity as a special occasion designer for the rights to produce designs from the Laura Lynn Collection. In 2003 she went into partnership and opened her own bridal shop called A Bride’s Design in Westlake, Ohio.

She currently resides in North Ridgeville with her husband, Brian, and infant daughter.