Social media and Pinterest mood boards have long influenced high school students’ style and expression. For some, a new Fashion Design class has allowed students a different perspective on clothes through sketching and bringing their ideas to life.
Fashion Design was one of six new elective classes offered this year. Jean Webb, the Fashion Design teacher, advocated to bring the creative outlet for the fashionistas on campus.
“I talked to my department head, Lindy Hutton, because at the time I was running intro to culinary and several other classes, and I noticed that I’ve been seeing all these cute little sketches and everything,” Webb said. “I said to Hutton, ‘too bad we don’t have a fashion program for them to express themselves with,’ and she took the idea to Dr. Miller and also to our district leadership for CTE, and they all came into agreement during a meeting and knew that it would be a great idea.”
Fashion Design isn’t as demanding as other extracurriculars or core classes, and acts more as a place for students to reconnect with their creativity in-between classes or at the end of the day.
“I know how to sew, because when I was little, my mom was always fixing clothes for her friends and stuff like that,” junior Eloisa Cleaveland said. “I hope to gain more than the basic knowledge of sewing that I already have and learn more about fashion design and just how colors can contrast with each other.”
All skill levels are welcome, as Fashion Design can be taken with or without prior knowledge of sewing or designing. Most students have joined out of curiosity and pure interest.
“I really like drawing clothes, so I wanted to learn more about fashion and see if I could learn to sew,” junior Andrew Vaughan said. “I hope to make stuff that I’m proud of and can connect with and actually wear out in public.”
The class will be holding their own end of the year fashion show to celebrate the growth of the students, and will showcase their progress by designing clothing pieces of their own during the Spring.
“I haven’t thoroughly planned out what I will create for the fashion show yet, but I hope to create a dress representing 2000’s fashion,” junior Blayne Gunderson said. “The 2000s is just really inspiring for me, and I really want to be able to convey that through the different techniques that I’ve learned.”