The final cuts

They've learned how to choose the right fabric, how to fit a garment, how to design pieces that are elegant and stylish.

Now, local fashion students are preparing for graduation -- and the end-of-year runway shows that will feature their best work.

Here, we introduce six promising young designers about to make what they hope will be a seamless transition to the next chapter of their lives.

SUJUNG CHO

School: Massachusetts College of Art, fashion design program
Age: 23
Hometown: East Boston
Inspiration: "In high school I learned how to sew and I loved it. Now I love it more and more. Three years ago I made a dress out of 5,000 plastic shirt clips. It was a bit heavy, but totally wearable."
Up next: "I want to go to New York and work in fashion. I want to go to graduate school eventually, but the work experience will help me decide my direction."
The goal: "To have my own line. I don't know how long it will take me. But that's my goal."

BOPHA TOUN

School: Bay State College, fashion design program
Age: 23
Hometown: Fall River
Inspiration: "I like clothes with structure, but hip and young-looking. I use architectural design as inspiration in creating a garment."
Up next: "Working retail -- visual merchandising at Brooks Brothers in Boston through summer. Then, in the fall, I want to start . . . at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York."
The goal: "I want to work as part of a design team. Something like BCBG maybe."

WHITNEY BURR

School: Rhode Island School Of Design, apparel design program
Age: 22
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
Inspiration: "It depends on how I feel. This semester I was inspired by aquarium gardens. Those exquisite plants and animals, the way they interact in the water."
Up next: "I'm interviewing with a bunch of places. I did an internship with Anthropologie and that taught me a lot about the business side."
The goal: "Children's wear is something I'd like to pursue. You can be so creative with children's clothes."

JIMINIE HAYWARD

School: The School of Fashion Design in Boston
Age: 26
Hometown: Portland, Ore.<
Inspiration: "My grandmother would make me the most beautiful clothes. It was something that always remained inside of me."
Up next: "I am looking for a job either in Los Angeles or New York. I'd prefer LA, the weather is better."
The goal: "To have my own cocktail- and evening-wear design business. Evening wear is fantasy and fun."

RICHARD CHIANG

School: Mount Ida College, fashion design program
Age: 24
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Inspiration: "Since I was little I was into Japanese animé. Also, my mother was a fashion designer, so that influenced me. She was an alumna from this school."
Up next: "I'm currently looking for a job, to get work experience. Then I want to go to grad School to study textiles."
The goal: "To have my own business. I love to make dresses. It would probably be a small boutique with my own designs."

HEATHER DAIGLE

School: Lasell College, fashion design and production program
Age: 21
Hometown: Vernon, Conn.
Inspiration: "It comes from everywhere, but mostly art history. Right now, my collection is based in French couture, but with an American spin."
Up next: "This summer I am doing a community- service project in fashion at Newton-Wellesley Hospital."
The goal: "I'd like to work for a designer first, to get my feet wet. It doesn't matter where really, but I'd love to stay in Boston versus New York."