April 20, 2017

Expressions fashion show to showcase student designs, talent

New York. Paris. Milan. Midtown.

Wayne State University’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Organization (FDMO) will take to the runway for its annual student-run Expressions spring fashion show at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

The show — which is coordinated, constructed and produced entirely by students — will feature collections from at least 11 student designers within WSU’s fashion design and merchandising program.

The collections are inspired by a diverse array of themes, including the fusion of African-Latin cultures, an appreciation of Indian heritage, and a celebration of Muslim modesty fashion.  

Khadijah King, a senior majoring in fashion design and president of the FDMO, will present a collection inspired by the parallels between an individual’s self-discovery experience and the journey sea turtles take from birth until they return to shore.

“As soon as a sea turtle is born, it goes back into the water and remains there for 25 years,” King said. “Those years are undocumented and, in my mind, very similar to a young adult’s ‘lost years’ between adolescence and adulthood. My collection is about striking the balance between fashions that are either too mature or too juvenile, and about really finding yourself and emerging.”

From start to finish, each collection takes about a year to produce. The process begins with in-depth research into a theme, mood and target market. From there, students complete 50 to100 sketches which are ultimately narrowed down to a handful of created pieces. Students then create patterns, select fabrics and tailor the garments.

Students work on their collections at home and in the fashion design and merchandising program’s extensive workspaces, which include a design lab and a textile performance-testing lab.

The program includes professional concentrations in both apparel design and fashion merchandising, enabling students to develop the skills necessary for a career in creative clothing design and in the business of buying, marketing and selling fashion merchandise.

“Our program provides an interdisciplinary training that combines fine arts skills with technical training,” said Rayneld Johnson, coordinator of the fashion design and merchandising program. “It’s a unique offering here that really allows students with passion, drive and creativity to thrive.”

To learn more about Wayne State’s fashion design and merchandising program, visit art.wayne.edu/fashion-design or contact the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art History at 313-577-2980 or art@wayne.edu.

To learn more about the FDMO and the Expressions fashion show, visit fdmo.org or find the organization on Facebook. Tickets can be purchased online and are free for students with their OneCard, or $10 for general admission.

 

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