By Kamilah Heslop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since a young age, Joelle (Purifoy) Bond \u201913 has had a keen eye for design. She went from using crayons as a child to draw portraits of her loved ones to learning how to sew an intricate trench coat in high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That elective sewing class, combined with her passion and creative talent, sparked Bond\u2019s interest in attending the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’d learned from a friend who had attended the Wilson College that it was the world\u2019s number one college of textiles,\u201d she says. \u201cI knew I wanted to pursue fashion design, so I applied and was thrilled to be accepted!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since graduating in 2013 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in fashion and textile management<\/a>, Bond has had a successful career in womenswear design. She\u2019s held a variety of design and merchandising roles at leading brands, including Tracy Reese, J. Crew and Spanx. While working in Tracy Reese\u2019s design studio in New York, Bond was thrilled to assist in creating feminine silhouettes and color-rich prints while also helping to prepare the brand for New York Fashion Week, which included the development of some iconic dresses donned by Former First Lady Michelle Obama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Bond is the associate designer of dresses and sweatshirts at Athleta. Prior to this position, she held a technical design role with the company where she perfected the fit of tops, dresses and outerwear, including pieces within the Allyson Felix capsule collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n