SENIOR COLUMN: BELLA BOLIN
BY ISABELLA BOLIN PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABELLA BOLIN
When you think of a fashion director, what do you think of? I picture a person with wild hair, the most eclectic accessories you’ve ever seen, multiple bags in hand, and somehow always late, yet also on time everywhere they go. This is ultimately how it went.
The role of fashion director has been the most special thing I’ve been a part of thus far, and it has propelled me into my professional goals and aspirations. The amount of odd clothing I’ve had to keep ahold of, the endless “hear-me-outs,” and the amazing team I have been so lucky to work with has made this experience so inspiring and led to me truly finding myself.
I joined Thread in the first semester of my freshman year. I was interested in the fashion department, but I never thought that I would end up being one of the cool, fashionable seniors. I want to thank Sam Kruse and Mak Price; they were the first two faces of Thread that I interacted with and immediately caught the creative bug.
I became a loyal and recurring stylist and model for the entirety of freshman year. I participated in one shoot and two fashion shows that year, and these experiences boosted my confidence and exposed me to the frantic stylist duties that I fell in love with.
Sophomore year came around, and I was a solidified “Threadie.” I became kind of the second hand to Kendall Bergeron and Natalie Schoolcraft, who were the fashion directors that year, and being a heavily involved stylist, I fell in love with the whole process and wanted to really start getting into it and maybe even apply for a role.
My sophomore year was mostly focused on building my personal style and getting influenced by so many new people due to Athens and the culture along with it. I experienced more modeling opportunities, which I never thought I would want to be a part of, but it turns out the whole process of styling, shooting, and seeing it come together really enthralled me. I then found my niche!
Soon after that, roles shifted, and I acquired a role with Natalie as co-assistant fashion director, and this is where I got to see the fine details within the job. Kendall, Natalie, and I were the perfect team — any shoot idea anyone had, we were able to collectively use pieces from our collections to style it. We produced the “It’s Camp Damnit” Issue during this time, which was the first issue I really felt connected with and proud of my work on. It truly reflected our creative team perfectly and finalized my junior year accomplishments.
Senior year came around, and this is where I felt I truly flourished. I was the only person on the fashion and makeup team at this point, so my team was brand new but full of ambition — I knew it would be worth it. This was when I really got to share my ideas and be as expressive as I could while leading a new team through a wild process.
It got overwhelming at points, but overall, this was the most rewarding year, and I cannot wait to see the legacy continue with the amazing team filling in my place. The amount of time, work, and energy we have all put into this year was truly magical and inspiring. There will never be another place I feel so comfortable in than the basement of Schoonover, which, if you know, you truly know.
The Thread experience is something I would never have been here without. My personality, style, inspiration, friends, and family have come out of this club and will continue to be honored. I want to thank everyone whom I have encountered within Thread: peers, models, stylists, makeup artists, etc. You all helped this magazine be what it is today.
I want to personally thank my close team this year, Courtney Getter, Bobbi Cross, and Madelyn Joens, for sticking with me and holding it all together and doing it flawlessly with passion and purpose. You guys are so important, and I can’t wait to see the amazing things moving forward.
Lastly, I want to thank the creative team and the overall Thread Executive team. We are a unit and produce some amazing things. Everyone involved should be oh so proud and flaunt this forever!
I will take this experience with me and never forget the legacy we are leaving behind and how this has forced me to grow so much as a person, friend, coworker, and leader. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect club to be a part of. Through the last-minute stressors to the overwhelming joy felt when selecting photos, I couldn’t have done it without the best team ever! I love Thread Magazine and wish the best for all involved. The 2025-2026 fashion director is signing out.
With so much love,
Bella Bolin
