Design student imagines fashion’s future

“It had to be a store concept that isn’t currently available, so you’re filling a void,’’ Gertz explained last week over chocolate milkshakes at a Union Square diner. “So I created a store where the clothes from the previous season are sent back to the store to get cut and resewn into pieces for the next season. The idea is that the clothing is constantly being recycled and updated. They really liked it.’’

A store where clothes are sent back and reconfigured for the following season may sound a tad too practical in the often fanciful world of fashion. But Gertz, who describes her style as “Urban Outfitters — but a little less grungy and hip,’’ designs from a functional standpoint. She’s not a fan of excess ruffles, feathers, or beading. She prefers to strip clothing down to its basics for a specific purpose. Lately, she’s taken an interest in sportswear and swimwear, eschewing the over-the-top couture that interests many of her classmates.

“I sympathize more with the common woman than the glamazon model,’’ said Gertz. “They look hot in anything. It doesn’t take much talent as a designer to make them look good.’’

Gertz has been sewing since sixth grade, when she first became fascinated with the idea of customizing clothing. By the time she was a sophomore in high school, she was making her own patterns and creating original garments. She eventually hopes to return to her first love of creating custom designs, but in the interim, she wants to bring her interest in the technical and functional side of clothing to the mass market.

“I think a lot of people discredit the mass market,’’ she said. “They say it’s not artistic. But I think there’s a lot of potential to do interesting things in that field. Everyone wants to be the next Alexander McQueen, but I think there’s room for more.’’