Students prepare for annual fashion show at the college
By Christina Lieffring
When the models sashay down the runway at the JCCC Fashion Show, it will be the culmination of the Fashion Merchandising and Design (FMD) faculty and students’ efforts for over six months. All FMD students must participate in at least one fashion show before completing the program, though some do more.
“Last year I was asked to participate and I had one month to prepare,” said design student Jamye Thompson, who is participating again in this year’s show. “This year I had a lot more time and had learned a lot more skills.”
The students must develop a concept and from that concept create and build a line of at least three ensembles. Both department chair Joan McCrillis- Lafferty and associate professor Joy Rhodes emphasized that while the faculty check-in and provide guidance, the concepts and work are all the students’.
In line with the “Timeless” theme, 15 outfits from the 20s, 40s and 60s will be modeled from the Fashion Collection, five from each decade. The Fashion Collection is an on-campus collection of over 3,000 pieces of vintage clothing.
The collection is “a huge asset and resource” for the design students, according to adjunct associate professor, Susan Peter.
“It’s one thing to see pictures and read books, but you can’t see how something is made from a book,” she said.
The Collection has pieces from the 1880s to 1990s, including designer pieces.
Also featured will be a line of children’s clothing that will be donated to the charity, “Dresses for Africa”. Two of the models are McCrillis-Lafferty’s granddaughters.
The student designers chose the theme “Timeless” for the overall show, according to McCrillis-Lafferty, “because fashion is timeless.”
“We’re always going back and drawing inspiration and revising,” McCrillis-Lafferty said.
“Timeless” is also intentionally broad because the student’s lines are “all totally different.”
Developing a line from an original concept is a new challenge for these designers. It is unlike their day-to-day classwork.
“You don’t have a pattern that you’re following,” said design student Liz Ronning. “You have to make your own design.”
This leads to unforeseen problems and application of the skills they learn in their classes in new contexts.
“I have learned so many things,” said design student Maria Mata. “Everything I learned, I’m doing it now. It can also be fun to have no idea what you’re doing.”
Design student Joe Walker was inspired by Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune”,
“I was surprised by how much I was inspired by a song,” he said.
Ronning’s design concept is “The Muppets,” which the students all agreed they were looking forward to seeing.
Another challenge for the students is working with models, who are volunteers usually recruited from the student body.
“They’re not like a set pattern or a mannequin. Their dimensions are different,” said Walker.
Mata sees her models “as a canvas.”
Thompson was a model in high school until she “wanted to learn more about what goes on behind the camera.”
She loves working with models, partly because some of them are her friends. It is “very satisfying” when, after altering a piece over and over, she gets the clothing to fit just right.
The college started its fashion design program in 2000. Before then, the fashion show featured clothing from retail stores as part of the fashion merchandising program. McCrillis-Lafferty and Rhodes feel the experience is invaluable for those wanting to go into the industry.
“It’s a huge lesson in time management. You have a hard deadline. Everything has to be ready to go on the runway,” said McCrillis-Lafferty.
While some students were confident, Ronning said she could have used seven months. Some first year FMD students anticipate the time crunch after watching their peers.
“I have students that are starting right now for next year, thinking of next year,” said Rhodes. “Because, you know, it’s a lot of work.”
In spite of the time and stress, McCrillis-Lafferty believes the experience gives FMD students an advantage in continuing their education or in the workplace.
“It gives them a portfolio piece and videotape of their clothes on a runway they can show to prospective employers,” she said. “Because they are literally putting their work on the runway, they take more pride in the work than they would in the classroom. The quality increases. They raise the bar of excellence.”
The college’s fashion show, “Timeless,” is this Friday, Feb. 28 at noon and 7 p.m. in the Polsky Theatre. Tickets for JCCC students, faculty and staff are $5, advanced general admission are $8 and door tickets are $10. Contact the box office at 913-469-4445.
After the show on Feb. 28, visit CampusLedger.com for photos from the event.
Contact Christina Lieffring, staff reporter, at clieffri@jccc.edu.