April 10, 2014
Fashion show to highlight students’ creations
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The annual student showcase and runway fashion show presented by seniors in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Fashion Design and Merchandising program will help shake off these late winter doldrums.
Nine student designers, including one male student, are working feverishly on their ensembles of clothing for young women and men for the runway fashion show, which starts at 7 p.m. April 24 in Student Center Ballroom D.
Admission is free and the public is welcome.
The evening starts at 6 p.m. in the Student Center’s J.W. Corker Lounger with junior- and senior-level fashion design students showing original garments they created. Exhibits include experimental design garments and student projects from a variety of classes including fashion illustration and fashion styling. One exhibit features a brand development collaboration project that will show the creative talents of fashion merchandising students, fashion designers, fashion stylists and interior design students. The exhibits can be viewed until 7 p.m.
The runway fashion show will begin with the “2014 Red and Black Collection,” presenting original cocktail dresses in signature red and black colors. The featured event is the presentation of nine garment collections from senior fashion designers.
The nine student designers are responsible for every detail of their collection, from concept to fashion illustration, fabric sourcing, patterning and construction, model and music selection, and accessory coordination. The designs also help students build their individual portfolios.
“The production of these collections is the first step in launching the careers of these young fashion designers. They get real-life experience in the entire design process, as well as an understanding of the stress and pressure that is part of the fashion industry,” said Laura K. Kidd, a fashion design associate professor who supervises the final senior designer collections and their presentation.
More than 125 students from majors all over campus are involved. Organizers are also collaborating with cosmetology program students from John A. Logan College for hair and makeup artists for runway models.
For more information, email Kidd at lkidd@siu.edu.
The featured senior designers and their collections, listed by hometown are:
Illinois
- Chicago: Maury Cesair with “Underwater Love.”
- Lake Forest: Shelby Reinhardt with “Over Time.”
- Macomb: Morgan Welty with “Prismatic Princess.”
- Mount Sterling: Kaitlin Wilkerson with “Nostalgia & Reverie.”
- Murphysboro: Sarah Elizabeth Grandt with “And Her Third Eye Fluttered.”
- Palatine: Alaina Howard with “Barely There.”
- Petersburg: Kara Elizabeth Hunt with “Bonded.”
Missouri
- St. Louis: Shakeera Roberts with “Pretty Reckless.”
China
- Jianuo Li, “Blue Illusion.”