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Form follows fashion

By Katie Floyd, Marketing and News Services Intern

Airbrushing and textile design and manipulation were fresh trends found among students’ collections showcased at this year’s Mom’s Weekend fashion show.

“Form Follows Fashion,” the 25th annual Apparel, Merchandising, Design, and Textiles Department event, featured 18 student lines along with more than 100 student models.

Aerobic gear designed by Debbie Christel (in black dress).

Beautiful bridal wear, comfortable sportswear, and edgy designs fused with textile manipulation created some of the unique pieces presented at this year’s show, according to fashion show director Carol Salusso, an associate professor in the department.

Students learn theory and find inspiration for their designs during the fall semester before they make their garments, select models, fit them, and create music and themes to present their lines at the spring fashion show, Salusso said. “The awards aren’t the big deal,” she said. “It’s that everybody comes out of this process with portfolio work.” The greatest value, she added, is the professional experience that students gain when they present their best work to an audience.

Airbrushed street clothes by Erin Corder (seated).

After the show, students add professional-quality photos of their line and a copy of the fashion show’s DVD to their portfolio. “It is a huge personal endeavor for each and every one of them. It is their conduit to a career,” Salusso said.

Students from Fashion Line Development and Special Event Production classes work together and independently to piece together the annual exhibition.

Judged on their lines’ visual integrity, aesthetic appeal, design quality, and assembly, seniors Erin Corder and Debbie Christel were awarded “Best of Show” Mollie Pepper Outstanding Student Designer Awards.