Growing up, Hope Ainsworth delved into the world of anime and Japanese art and culture, including Japan’s enthrallment with Lolita fashion. This attraction materialized during a bridal design class, in which Ainsworth made an Alice in Wonderland dress. “After that, I was hooked. I said to myself: I just wanted to make puffy dresses for the world,” said Ainsworth, with a big smile.
At SLCC’s annual Fashion Institute senior show held on May 2 at South Town Mall, Ainsworth’s signature line of flouncing teacup skirts were modeled along with a wide variety of other original designs curated from collections developed by students in their final year of the program. A full house viewed collections ranging from clubwear, streetwear, office/business wear, ready-to-wear clothes, cosplay and costumes.
The half-dozen students involved designed seven to ten pieces each. Alicia Scott designed every-day and office-wear clothing with a focus on simple lines, strong design details and neutral, earth tone colors. “I want to design clothes that can go with everything and fit into anybody’s wardrobe,” said Scott, who graduates this week and hopes to one day have her own clothing brand. “I’ve always loved creating art, and clothing design is an art from for me and one that I love,” added Scott.
Fashion Institute Program Manager Mojdeh Sakaki is a veteran in the fashion industry oversees SLCC’s Fashion Institute shows. Adjunct Faculty Kim Kienow was the Fashion Show Production faculty, Maria Skelton was the faculty for the Collection Production class, and Matt Monson was the responsible for the staging of the venue.
“Right now, we have this opportunity to really step back and consider how we want to re-approach style and design,” said Sakaki, noting that more than 90% of the retail industry shut down during the pandemic. “There have been a lot of changes. Suits are gone, comfort and leisure are booming. And new 3-D printing technology is introducing new types of fabrics and patterns. It is an exciting time to be in fashion.”
The fashion shows participating students are graduating from the only Fashion Program in the state. Past Fashion Design graduates have gone on to prestigious design schools nationally and internationally. Others have gone on to design for companies such as Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue and Guess Kids. >
Many of the Fashion Institute’s graduates enrich the local design industry by taking jobs as seamstresses, pattern makers, merchandisers, illustrators and more.
When Debra Phipps graduates, she hopes to establish an expertise in technical design work. “I’m less interested in the initial creativity involved in design and more interested in the process of figuring out the patterns, the draping details, which is all like a puzzle to me.”
Original student alumni designs will be featured ongoing in South Town Mall window displays beginning May 23 and change seasonally.
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