Fashion's seniors ready for the runway

May 3, 2023 – DENTON – Every year, the School of Arts & Design fills the Texas Woman's University campus with shows and galleries, more than 40 in 2022-23 from the divisions of Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts.

Fashion, however, has one show a year, the culmination of the academic careers for its graduating class.

"Everything they've learned," said Anna Magie, head of the Division of Fashion Design and Merchandising. "You could think of it as a capstone project, because everything that they've done and learned all the way from an intro class in fashion marketing through the levels where they learn pattern making, design, draping and event planning and production techniques.

"They take so much pride in seeing their garments walk down the runway," Magie said. "Parents, families and friends will be there. It's a big showcase."

Fourteen seniors will see their designs on the runway in the 2023 Senior Fashion Show on Friday, May 5, at Blagg-Huey Library. Pop-up shops will open at 5 p.m., featuring accessories and fashion products produced by TWU fashion students enrolled in senior collection and production techniques classes. Seating for the show is at 6:30, and the show is at 7 p.m. and will conclude at 8.

Each garment on the runway is designed and created by the TWU seniors.

"These pieces are 100% their own work," Magie said. "It has to be. They're up here in the labs many, many hours. Some garments, especially the formal wear, putting the pieces together takes hours and hours. In a collection of five garments, technical expertise comes in. They sketch their garments first by hand, and then do some computer sketching, design the patterns, cut them, sew them and show them."

The theme of this year's show is “Unwritten Perceptions”

"This is a concept that the event planning class came up with," Magie said. "It's in collaboration with the senior class and our production techniques class. Think about fashion design and how garments look. If you're looking at someone like Ralph Lauren, who's very tailored, structured, conservative, or someone outlandish like Alexander McQueen. Some things are translated better in unwritten formats in the design, manipulating fabrics, draping them. It's a different experience. In the show, there will be a variety of garments and collections."

Creativity, but with an eye towards sales.

"In this program, one thing we really strive to do is make sure they understand how to produce things that are marketable," Magie said. "The clothes have to be something consumers will buy or there's no future business for them."

If past experience is any gauge, some of the garments in the show will make their way into the marketplace. Design seniors frequently land jobs with local companies like Westmoor Mfg. (which makes western wear), JC Penney or Dickies. Even the Dallas Cowboys, designing their mass-market clothing.

Naturally, a show of this scale requires all hands on deck. Set up, dressing rooms, organizing the clothing, hair and makeup, organizing the flow of models onto the runway is a massive undertaking.

Following the conclusion of the show, the seniors will embark on internships this summer, some local but others in New York, Los Angeles, or overseas. They will then graduate from TWU in August after completion of the internship.

This year's show will feature the works of:

• Andi Marie Escalante
• Angela Escobedo
• Jacqueline Green
• Nicole Harris
• Athena Hill
• Alonda Ipina
• Devin Ballinger Johnsen
• Jala Ja'nell Kennebrew
• Kira Kennie-Burton
• Irma Mares
• Kamryn Marsh
• Kim Ngoc Nguyen
• Asha Sails
• Ana Saldana

Senior Fashion Show: Unwritten Perceptions

Friday, May 5, 2023, 5-8 p.m.
Retail market: 5-6:30 p.m.
Blagg-Huey Library

Tickets:
$7 standing
$12 seated
$50 VIP bundle