Karron English of Canton started teaching classes in fashion design as a way to keep in touch with her passion for her profession. Now, with the opening of English Design Laboratory, her career is poised to take a new turn.

English worked in New York for 10 years, designing apparel lines for the likes of Bugle Boy and the Limited Corp. When her husband's job was transferred to Georgia, she took a job with Coca-Cola, working with its apparel licensees. But the urge to design and create was still there.

FRANK NIEMEIR/AJC STAFF (ENLARGE)
Karron English works with concept boards as she prepares to open her English Design Laboratory in Kennesaw. English, who worked in fashion in New York for 10 years, hopes to fill a niche for local young people interested in fashion design.
ENGLISH DESIGN LABORATORY   • Where: 4329 Bells Ferry Road, Kennesaw Update: We're Moving! Here is our new location: English Design Laboratory, Inc. 3660 Canton Road, Suite 210 Marietta, Ga 30066   • Hours: Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays See Calendar   • Phone: 770-924-2977

"I started teaching design to kids at the Cherokee Arts Council and at Towne Lake Arts Center," said English, who graduated in 1986 from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. "It was something I needed to do to stimulate myself, but it's turned into something bigger that could really become serious."

English Design Laboratory is the first fashion design art lab in the Cobb-Cherokee County area. Located on Bells Ferry Road in Kennesaw about a quarter-mile from I-575, the lab is easily accessible to both Cobb and Cherokee patrons.

"I realized that there were kids in the Cobb and Cherokee area who would love to get into fashion design, who have a real passion for it," English said. "And their parents would love to help them but didn't know where to go. It's a niche that hasn't been filled here."

Four- and 5-year-olds are in mommy-and-me classes. Working (and playing) with paper dolls, the children will learn how to design a mini-collection.

The focus is to "create an early interest in fashion," English said. "It's a lot of fun for them, and very hands-on."

By the the time the children hit ages nine to 12, they're sketching fashion figures and learning how to put together "picture boards" for presentations.

"For me, I love to see the individuality they each have," English said. "I give the foundation, and they take that and develop their own styles. And the interesting thing is, they all really do have their own styles. What they zero in on is always different from whatever the person next to them is doing."

The teenage students are focused, English said. If they come to the classes, they've probably already decided that fashion design is their passion.

"They want to do this [as a career], but sometimes they'll say things like, 'Can you really make money doing this?' " she said.

"I say, 'Well, let's ask Ralph Lauren what he thinks.' "

Each class has a maximum of eight students, which allows for one-on-one instruction.

"Now I see what teachers get out of teaching," English said. "When you see that light bulb go on in their heads, it's just amazing."