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In a room full of sewing machines and dress forms, the students of St. Clair College’s fashion design program are putting the finishing touches on the outfits hitting the catwalk this Saturday for the program’s annual year-end show.
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The Atelier Fashion Show features the designs of the college’s Fashion Design Technician students. The show is back in-person 2022 after a two year pandemic hiatus.
“We have a great group this year, I think because they had to go through so much to keep it going,” said program coordinator Elaine Chatwood. “They’re so adaptable and I think that all really helps them.”
Now in its ninth year, this is the first in-person show in two years — although last year the program held a video show, even including a robot mannequin. To open this year’s show, winners from 2020 and 2021 will exhibit their designs.
We’ve been working all semester, so we’re ready
Throughout the pandemic, Chatwood said they did their best to keep the students working in the fashion lab with professional equipment, even if at times they worked in small groups.
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“The students have been so resilient,” Chatwood said. “There have been so many ups and downs and I’m very proud of how they’ve persevered through all of this.”
Second-year student and designer Megan Rennie will be showcasing her five-piece Rennie Explicit collection on Saturday, featuring reclaimed materials.
One of the pieces she’s most excited to show is a puffer-style jacket made from repurposed fabrics, hand-dyed with black walnut and waterproofed with beeswax.
“(My customer) is someone who’s who loves fashion and also wants to be environmentally conscious at the same time,” Rennie said.
Rennie said she previously had a small business, but joined the program at St. Clair to learn about the business side of fashion.
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“When I was younger, I grew up with my grandma and she sews and she’s an artist,” Rennie said. “Before coming to this program, I had a little business just like repurposing things I found at Value Village, and then I realized I didn’t have a lot of the skills I needed to move forward to where I wanted to be so that’s when I decided to join this program.”
The show will be judged by a panel of program graduates and designers from Canadian fashion brands. First, second and third place winners will receive scholarship prizes from the St. Clair College Alumni Association.
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Robot struts St. Clair students’ fashion designs down runway
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Fashion design students prepare for Atelier Fashion Show
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As the students finish preparing for Saturday’s show, many said they’re nervous — but also excited to finally show collections before a crowd for the first time.
“I”m excited, but also anxious,” said second-year student and designer Cynthia Okpala, who is showing a collection complete with a tulle and beaded evening dress — tulle is one of her favorite materials to work with, because it’s playful, like she thinks fashion should be — as well as pants, skirt and a jumpsuit from her brand Tailored by Cee.
“We’ve been working all semester, so we’re ready.”
Atelier Fashion Show is Saturday, April 23. Find information and tickets online at stclaircollege.ca/atelier.
