Karen Graham ’87/90/95 never intended to be a fashion designer, especially not for lizards.
Graham, curator of herpetology at the Sedgwick County Zoo, chose to be a biologist. But she is actively involved in the Iguana Specialist Group, which works to protect the endangered species. In fact, Jamaican iguanas were thought to be extinct, so when a small population was discovered several years ago, ISG members were excited. “You thought you blew it, but you have another chance. How great is that?” Graham says.
ISG needed to track the animals, but had difficulty finding an effective way to attach radio transmitters. Since there were three Jamaican iguanas in a conservation program at the zoo, Graham began work on designing a vest that would hold the transmitter and also stand up to the rigors of everyday lizard life: Jamaican iguanas live in a hostile environment that is rough on vests.
And she called on Nike for assistance. The just-do-it company eventually provided about 100 vests made from its All Conditions Gear, which proved durable and breathable for the cold-blooded animals.
Graham says of her choice of work, “Reptiles are the underdogs of the animal world, and I’ve always had a tendency to root for the underdog.”
