Music echoes in the almost-empty seventh floor of The Warehouse. In the corner of the large fashion design studio, a cluster of students laugh and talk as they work, hunched over sewing machines. Yellow measuring tape is draped around their necks, and pincushion bracelets adorn their wrists as they work, seemingly unfazed by the headless, well-dressed mannequins looming behind them.

Despite the fact that it’s approaching 11 p.m., the fashion design seniors have just gotten started for the night.

On top of designing their senior collections, three of these students have taken on the responsibility of being the first students to direct and style the Fashion Communications Milestone’s annual fashion show, a responsibility previously held by fashion design faculty members.

‘It has been a lot of responsibility being in charge of a huge team and balancing the schedules, not only yours but everyone’s, and making sure everything is right,’ said Marteal Boniello, a senior fashion design major and one of the student directors for the event.

The event, called ‘Fashion Follows Form: Fashion and Diversity,’ will feature five segments that follow the theme of exploring multiplicity in fashion communications. The event, which celebrates the Milestone’s fifth anniversary, will be held Friday, April 1.

As a joint program between the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the fashion design program in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Milestone represents the collaborative spirit of this unique program, said Carla Llyod, co-founder of the milestone.

‘It is truly a milestone for the milestone,’ Lloyd said. ‘We are still the first mass communications program to do something like this.’

Founded in 2007, the program has since served as a bridge between both schools by allowing students interested in pursuing a career in fashion communications to take a variety of free electives in both Newhouse and VPA, Lloyd said. She said the program has also worked to reach a variety of audiences — this year’s show even features a breast cancer awareness section.

The program over the past five years has seen the fulfillment of its goal to unite these two schools, Lloyd said.

‘It was really new when we started out, and it was more like an underground idea, and now I feel like more people have heard about it and have joined,’ said Hannah Slocum, a senior fashion design student and co-director of the show. ‘It’s become much bigger and more professional over the past few years.’

This year’s show will bring a broader view to fashion by including a unique segment dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness. This segment will feature different shades of pink clothing donated by Thrifty Shopper, a set of local shops that sell used clothes and goods.

‘We thought, ‘How can we make it resonate with women such that they are considering this and taking measures in checking their own health regularly,” Lloyd said. ‘What we really want is models to come forward whose friends or family members are breast cancer survivors. I think their presence will strengthen the message we’re trying to send.’

The student directors agree the models are just as important to the show’s theme as the clothing, and they anticipate a large turnout of models.

‘Model calls alone naturally bring in a flow of different heights, sizes, ethnicities,’ said Andrea McInnes, a senior fashion design major and co-director of the show. ‘We have a pretty diverse campus as it is.’

In the past, students have had limited ability to truly get involved outside their field of study. This is no longer the case. The show has provided students with a chance to experience working in unfamiliar areas of fashion that interest them.

‘It used to be all things made by the fashion design students, so there wasn’t much opportunity for the Newhouse students to get involved,’ Boniello said. ‘They don’t make clothes — it’s not their major — but they’re obviously interested in fashion. That’s why they’re in the Milestone. This show gives them that chance.’

Newhouse students have the opportunity to work as makeup artists, hairstylists and models. They can also work as stylists for the first two segments of the show, which feature the garments donated by Thrifty Shopper.

‘This is another way of looking at diversity through the issues of not only sustainability but also issues of social-economical status’ said Lloyd. ‘It’s an educational process as well.’

The show and the Milestone also open doors of opportunity for the fashion design students.

‘It gives the fashion design students an opportunity to expand beyond design,’ McInnes said. ‘When people want to do fashion, they automatically think it has to be fashion design, when there are so many different areas, and you don’t realize until you join the workforce or come to school that it’s a whole huge industry to learn about.’

Many of the important aspects of the show have remained. The show still acts as an outlet for freshman, sophomore and junior fashion design students to exhibit their work. It also addresses critical issues facing today’s fashion communications industry. This can be seen in the breast cancer awareness section, as well as parts of the show that feature looks by local artists and craftsmen, and another segment featuring middle school students sporting eco-friendly looks. 

Despite the long hours and large amounts of man power, the three designers believe the show and the program are worth it.

‘It’s constant work, but I know it will pay off as a great learning experience,’ Slocum said. ‘Once it’s all done and the show’s together, it will be the best feeling ever.’

dmodiama@syr.edu

Published on March 23, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Danielle: dmodiama@syr.edu | @daniemarieodie