Meet the Intern: Gabriela Bell

Meet the Intern: Gabriela Bell

Where are you from?

I’m from Indianapolis, born and raised! I just moved back home after living in Bloomington for almost five years while I attended IU.

Tell us a little bit about your educational background.

I just graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in fashion media, a certificate in journalism, and a minor in fashion design. Funnily enough, the first major I declared was theatre. I danced growing up and was involved in performing arts like theatre and show choir all throughout high school, so when it came time to pick a major and I still hadn’t decided, I ended up just declaring theatre without really exploring other options. I quickly realized that major wasn’t for me, so I started looking into other degree programs. At the time, the fashion media concentration was very new, but it felt like the perfect fit, and I am so glad I chose it! I’ve always loved to write both for school and as a hobby and have been passionate about fashion, and it’s seriously like the degree program was created just for me. ;) 

What is your proudest moment, and can you describe it for us?

My most recent proudest moment was graduating college. I think seeing my parents after my commencement ceremony was really special. I knew how proud they were of me, so it reminded me to be proud of myself too! Finishing university is no easy feat so I definitely should give myself more credit.

Why did you want to become an intern at Pattern?

I heard about Pattern through some other peers who had interned here. I was initially drawn to it because it is local to Indy, and I am drawn to organizations that still make print magazines. Also, being an Indy native, I loved Pattern’s mission to uplift the local creative economy. As a lover of the arts, I felt that working with Pattern would be a great opportunity to give back to the local community as well as immerse myself in the creative scene here.

What’s your favorite spot in Indy, and why do you like to go there?

It’s hard to pick just one, but, the top three would have to be Midland Arts and Antiques Market, Broad Ripple Vintage, or Silver in the City on Mass Ave (all retail places, I know. I love to shop, what can I say!). I love Midland because it has such a vast collection of antiques and thrifted goodies, and it’s so fun to go with friends or family and make a day out of the experience there. I also love Broad Ripple Vintage and Broad Ripple in general; much of my youth and adolescence was spent in Broad Ripple so that neighborhood has a special place in my heart. Silver in the City on Mass Ave just has an excellent vibe and I love their jewelry—my mom and I always pick out gifts for each other there.

What is one album that you consider perfect?

Norman F*cking Rockwell by Lana Del Rey. One of my favorite albums personally, but I also think it’s just objectively a great album. I love her critique and commentary on the American dream.

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

bell hooks is one of my favorite writers and has taught me so much about Black feminist theory. I would love to have dinner with her and just pick her brain.

If you were to go on a reality show, which one would you go on and why?

Love Island USA, no doubt. The ultimate dream is to be a Real Housewife though (ideally Beverly Hills or NYC).

What are your career aspirations after Pattern?

I would love to continue working in the creative space, ideally in the fashion industry. My dream job would be to work for a major fashion publication. But I really care about writing for a purpose; in other words, I don’t want to just write fluff pieces about what Bella Hadid wore to Pilates. A lot of my writing so far in my career have been cultural critiques of some kind—I’ve written about toxic beauty standards, fast fashion, sustainability, etc. I want to work for a publication, company, or organization that allows me to continue writing about and shedding light on important issues like that. I would also be interested in working for an arts non-profit like Pattern!

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