From a 23-year-old soldier to an 84-year-old Korean War vet,
15 female veterans from all branches of the military recently were treated to
new custom-designed gowns made by students of Salt Lake Community College’s
Fashion Institute. In recognition of Veterans Day, the gowns were modeled by
the vets during the annual Women Veterans Celebration, featuring the “Grit To
Glamour: Warrior To Woman” fashion show at Zions Bank in Salt Lake City. SLCC
students also provided hair and makeup services for the veterans as well as
organizing the fashion show.
SLCC student Charlie Fratto designed the gown worn by veteran Amanda Turner.
Design student Charlie Fratto, 22, made a dress for Air
Force Senior Airman Amanda Turner, who has worked with wounded soldiers at Fort
Sam Houston in San Antonio. “Being a veteran,” she says, “means stepping up to
the call to honor those who have served and offered their lives for this
country.” Fratto designed Turner’s floor-length gold gown with full sleeves and
a high neckline. All of the veterans were able to keep the dresses they wore in
the fashion show.
“Right when Mojdeh (Sakaki, SLCC Fashion Institute director)
told us about the project, I didn’t hesitate one second,” Fratto said. “I was
like, yes, sign me up—I want to do this. If I can use my talents to say
‘Thank you,’ then it makes me so happy.” Fratto said Turner, a 25-year-old
mother, allowed him to design using his “aesthetic” with an eye toward
outfitting a strong, confident woman. He was grateful for the experience of
working directly with a “client” in a real-world setting outside of the
classroom environment. “She was such a great sport about everything,” Fratto
said. “It turned out absolutely beautiful, but she also feels great in the
dress—and as long as she feels beautiful, then I’m happy.”
Female veterans show off their custom-made gowns.
Sakaki told veterans that students worked long hours
volunteering to make the dresses. “I appreciate the opportunity for our
students to be able to serve you,” she said. “You have served our country, and
we have been able to give back to you a little bit.” Sakaki said each dress
took six or seven fittings to get it just right. “I’m very proud of them,” she
added. “I’m proud they wanted to give, that they wanted to make a difference.
And as beautiful as these ladies are on the inside, we can see that they are
beautiful on the outside as well.”
SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin earlier in the evening
said beauty is more than what we see in the mirror. “The female veterans here
tonight represent the nearly 15 percent of active duty military members who are
women, and the population of female veterans grows more every day,” Huftalin
said. “Brave, courageous women are today reaching some of the highest levels of
command in the military, weaving what I might describe as a unique hybrid of
beauty throughout the fabric of our male-dominated armed forces.”
SLCC TV interviews designer Trung Tham before the fashion show.
what a wonderful article! thank you all
ReplyDelete