Tiffany Huang had the invaluable opportunity to feature her design on LIFEWTR Series 3 bottles and showcase her first collection during New York Fashion Week in September— as part of the premium hydration brand’s partnership with the CFDA based on a shared mission in advancing creativity and supporting emerging creators on a global stage. Nearly a year later, we caught up with Huang at NYFW: Men’s and the Fashion Future Graduate Showcase as she met with top fashion talents and graduates from fashion schools and shared her creative wisdom. Here, our interview.

How did you enjoy NYFW: Men’s?

It was such an incredible experience! It’s always nice to catch up with the team at CFDA and LIFEWTR at fashion week.

What were some of the most inspired moments you witnessed?

The Jahnkoy show was one of the most emotional and exciting fashion shows I’ve ever been to. It was really inspiring to see how they combined community building, dance, and fashion together to create a unique way for people to experience clothes.

How was being around the creative community going to influence your own creative process?

It’s always great to come out of your personal working space and connect with other people who are on similar paths. I always feel very supported by the creative community and they inspire me to push myself harder.

As an emerging designers yourself, what advice do you have for these graduates?

Don’t let failures or success dictate your creative path. Always stay loyal to your vision.

You were given an immense opportunity through the LIFEWTR Series 3 program last year. What did you learn from this experience that you can pass on to future generations of designers?

It was a really intense learning experience to put on my first fashion presentation, but I learned so much from the process especially learning to communicate with different teams of people to put out work that is genuine. I also really cherish the experience of being on this journey with two other designers. We became really good friends and it’s amazing to have people that are going through similar situations to turn to for advice and support. LIFEWTR has built such a great community of artists and art lovers, and I think that support system is the most valuable thing I’ve gained from this experience.

How has your career and passion progressed following the LIFEWTR Series 3 program and presentation last year?

The exposure and support has been really helpful. After the fashion week presentation, we were invited to showcase the Umbrella Ghost collection at Innov8, a retail and technology event backed by Accenture, and we are in talks with a museum in Shanghai to showcase the collection later this year.