
Developing in Illinois Point out University’s Horticulture Middle’s vegetable garden—a residing canvas of leafy greens and vibrant heirloom tomatoes—a slender, fingerlike purple pepper caught Jalen Cunningham’s inventive eye.
“What’s that a single?” Cunningham requested Horticulture Center Director Jessica Chambers ’93.

“It’s a buena mulata pepper,” Chambers mentioned with a smile. She pulled a single from the plant and handed it to Cunningham.
“I didn’t know greens could look that interesting,” he stated. “I seriously want to draw these.”
A senior graphic design key, Cunningham spent the summer planning an original apparel line inspired by the Horticulture Heart which he’ll showcase at the center’s Autumnal Festival, Saturday, September 10, and Sunday, September 11. Cunningham’s “Horticulture Collection” incorporates many pieces of apparel—from T-shirts to jackets—featuring three of the center’s gardens: the Vegetable Backyard garden, the Herb Back garden, and the Moon Back garden.
Chambers and Cunningham linked for the duration of a graphic style and design internship fair past spring. Chambers was amazed when Cunningham pulled a colourful jacket he had developed out of his bookbag. “That’s astounding. What if you did a piece of clothing that represented the garden?” Chambers proposed.
Cunningham cherished the thought, and in June, he commenced traveling to the Horticulture Heart every few weeks from his home in Steger, 35 miles south of Chicago.

“Jessica showed me all over and experienced me notice everything—and I’m glad she did, because I imagine if I was just employing images on Google, the ultimate end result would not have been as superior,” claimed Cunningham. He took pictures of the gardens during the summer and even picked some greens to deliver home. The purple peppers, which Cunningham integrated into his vegetable backyard garden design and style, ended up “super spicy,” he claimed.
After generating a mood board for inspiration, Cunningham manufactured extra than 20 pencil sketches, and Chambers furnished responses. “Maybe you should really include some much more greens,” she advised. “Oh, you’re correct,” replied Cunningham. He produced closing variations in Photoshop and uploaded his styles into online templates for numerous clothes. Cunningham altered his design and style to account for sleeves and pant legs.
“It can be a extremely wearisome method, but I think it finishes up wanting superior towards the finish,” Cunningham explained. “It’s nicely well worth it.”
Cunningham’s Horticulture Collection is readily available online through his lately released style company, Sol Clothing. “I like to place my full soul into the design,” he discussed. Cunningham relished the prospect to don lively clothes in university after attending a significant university wherever uniforms were required.
For the duration of his junior yr at Illinois Condition, Cunningham commenced developing his personal vibrant, colorful wardrobe. He credits Vitoria Faccin-Herman, tutorial assistant professor in the Wonsook Kim Faculty of Art, for inspiring him to improve as a graphic designer.

“She’s been great. I never believe I would’ve gotten to this point if she wasn’t my instructor,” claimed Cunningham. He aspires to gain a master’s diploma so he as well can train graphic design and style while planning clothing on the side.
“I would not have assumed a yr in the past that I would essentially be in a position to get an internship doing this,” Cunningham stated. “I’m really appreciative of every little thing that’s occurred to me.”
Chambers stated she is impressed by Cunningham’s Horticulture Heart-motivated outfits line. “This was the coolest task,” she mentioned. “Him performing his factor, building clothes, and staying ready to tie them to the gardens.”
Cunningham explained he hopes individuals who see or dress in a piece from his Horticulture Collection gain a superior appreciation for the diverse bouquets, herbs, and vegetables at the heart.
“I did a good deal of observation, and the greens and plants can be definitely amazing looking,” Cunningham mentioned.
“If you are putting on it, folks are going to see it. And they’ll see the Horticultural Centre symbol, so ideally they’ll believe, ‘Oh, that is the style of things they have more than there. It’s possible we can test it out a single weekend.’”