By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — 19-year-old German student Lisa Lüdtke (pronounced like ‘lee-za’) has high aspirations in the world of fashion, and over the summer she will get a head start on her career as she will introduce her own exclusive line of clothing to the area.

Born in Germany, she is now a resident in the principality of Liechtenstein, which according to the Hartjes family (her host family here in Stevens Point) “may be the most beautiful place on earth”, nestled in the Alps, between Switzerland and Austria. Liechtenstein holds a similar size to that of Portage County.

Lüdtke has decided that she will keep her internship local, and with that, create a unique brand of her own for local women’s boutique Bria Bella & Co. She is also a former SPASH exchange student, and the soft, but very well spoken teen will be coming back to her second home over the summer in efforts to further her career ambitions. According to Lüdtke, fashion has always seemed to be in her future.

“When I was younger I always loved fashion and dressed nice,” said Ludtke. “I feel like it’s a good fit for me.”

Lüdtke is attending Höhere Technische Bundeslehr- und Versuchsanstalt Dornbirn, (college) in Dornbirn, Austria.  She could have interned anywhere in Germany, but Wisconsin started to grow on her. According to Lüdtke, many Europeans think of the United States as one big sunny, bustling city; so it was a bit of shock when she first met her host family years ago in Stevens Point.

“It’s so pretty here — I would never imagine America being that way,” said Lüdtke. “I feel like I have a connection to people here, and I have made so many memories, already.”

However, Lüdtke just doesn’t want to become a fashion designer, but get involved in fashion management and fashion journalism. The bright-eyed 19-year-old understands that with her generation comes choices, and the ability to wear multiple hats over the course of her pending career.

“I feel like in our generation you have to be open for other things,” said Lüdtke. “So if I just focus on fashion (design), I might be lost.”

You can check out this future fashion guru-in-the-making this coming Summer at Bria Bella & Co., 925 Main St.