VCC is well known for its vast array of programs and I have always been a fan of its Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising Grad Shows and many forays down the red carpet runways of Vancouver Fashion Week. This summer at Carnival Del Sol, VCC presented a whimsical, colorful show here.
I am fortunate to see the preview show, and interview seven new designers at the school. Following that, I will see their fabulous achievements at Vancouver Fashion Week, Wed. Sept 21.
"Let there be fashion" is exactly what I saw on the Fashion Show preview night. First I met Lisa Gellert, teacher, who teaches Illustration1, 2, Portfolio 1, Collections, Design 1, 2 and much more. She will be receiving a Teacher Award at the opening Gala of Vancouver Fashion Week, on Monday. This award is for those who have contributed endlessly to the advancement fashion industry, to the local market and especially to the education and training of new designers. She meets the students when they are at the beginning, an important introduction to VCC and to the very wide world of designing a unique fashion collection. She is excited, she says, to see how much they develop their initial concepts from the first year to the end of the second year, when they graduate. This group, in her words, came in with strong ideas, good computer and photography skills and are adept at hand drawing. The international mix, too, is fascinating with all students speaking at least two languages.
While there is a great website for more information about the students and their work, I chose to meet them and actually see how their clothes worked for me. After all, we all want beautiful outfits that are hand crafted, slow fashion, and a perfect fit, things that are very hard to find in stores. I always have high hopes that I will see runway dazzlers, just when I need them, so here's to being optimistic. I asked what age range these collections were intended for, and first was told, well, maybe 20-30. However I told them that everyone, no matter what age, wants a wardrobe they love. Many of the outfits I saw, I wanted to buy on the spot. My hope is that designers will pay attention to all sizes and ages and give us the fit and glam that the fashion world promises.
It is thanks to Sarah Murray, Program Co-ordinator: Fashion, Recruitment, Industry Relations, VCC, that I have been invited to VCC Fashion Shows and at her invitation that I came to preview the collection, that will grace the runway, next Wednesday. During a very busy prep time, she managed to work around me as I interviewed and tried on the dresses. She even got her picture taken with one of the dresses. And, the students are very ready, with their fabulous portfolios, carefully bagged collections, firm handshakes and so much enthusiasm for their training from VCC, their school. Some told me that they had never sewn or drawn an illustration before they came. But oh, they have mastered it all, now. The world is at their feet and I bow to their expertise and creativity.
Here are the designers!
Congratulations Designers and Staff. Thank you for a captivating evening! Ever onward and looking forward to the red carpet!
I am fortunate to see the preview show, and interview seven new designers at the school. Following that, I will see their fabulous achievements at Vancouver Fashion Week, Wed. Sept 21.
"Let there be fashion" is exactly what I saw on the Fashion Show preview night. First I met Lisa Gellert, teacher, who teaches Illustration1, 2, Portfolio 1, Collections, Design 1, 2 and much more. She will be receiving a Teacher Award at the opening Gala of Vancouver Fashion Week, on Monday. This award is for those who have contributed endlessly to the advancement fashion industry, to the local market and especially to the education and training of new designers. She meets the students when they are at the beginning, an important introduction to VCC and to the very wide world of designing a unique fashion collection. She is excited, she says, to see how much they develop their initial concepts from the first year to the end of the second year, when they graduate. This group, in her words, came in with strong ideas, good computer and photography skills and are adept at hand drawing. The international mix, too, is fascinating with all students speaking at least two languages.
While there is a great website for more information about the students and their work, I chose to meet them and actually see how their clothes worked for me. After all, we all want beautiful outfits that are hand crafted, slow fashion, and a perfect fit, things that are very hard to find in stores. I always have high hopes that I will see runway dazzlers, just when I need them, so here's to being optimistic. I asked what age range these collections were intended for, and first was told, well, maybe 20-30. However I told them that everyone, no matter what age, wants a wardrobe they love. Many of the outfits I saw, I wanted to buy on the spot. My hope is that designers will pay attention to all sizes and ages and give us the fit and glam that the fashion world promises.
It is thanks to Sarah Murray, Program Co-ordinator: Fashion, Recruitment, Industry Relations, VCC, that I have been invited to VCC Fashion Shows and at her invitation that I came to preview the collection, that will grace the runway, next Wednesday. During a very busy prep time, she managed to work around me as I interviewed and tried on the dresses. She even got her picture taken with one of the dresses. And, the students are very ready, with their fabulous portfolios, carefully bagged collections, firm handshakes and so much enthusiasm for their training from VCC, their school. Some told me that they had never sewn or drawn an illustration before they came. But oh, they have mastered it all, now. The world is at their feet and I bow to their expertise and creativity.
Here are the designers!
Polina, from Russia, has what she calls looks for the spoiled teenager. So I see the oversized, wildly colorful and grafitti jackets, shirts and pants, as cool pieces that our visual, social media savvy, message loving kids would like. As they fly by on their skateboards and scooters, I see these brilliant orange, purple and yellow landscapes billowing out behind them, the bigger, the more practical, I think. Polina has faces, lots of faces hidden in the graphics so there is lots to make the eye travel, as Diana Vreeland says. But wait, there is a little jacket for me. All that big design, looking fantastic, big or small. Polina likes adventure and weird, and, I think big statements, too. She wanted to be an artist, and is a graphic designer and, at only 19, can be anything she wants!
Maria, also from Russia, favors a feminine, empowering look, with velvets and jersey, chiffon and stretch for fit and comfort. She has a BA in Languages and speaks Mandarin, Russian and English. She lived in China for 6 years, before hitting Vancouver. She admires VCC for its international reputation, affordability and for what she has learned in just two years.
Sarah, is moving to California, very soon but wants to work her magic in the film industry, there. She is a fan of hand crafted, slow fashion. She also likes thrifting, upcycling, recycling and multiple uses for each piece of clothing. I tried on the white quilted fabric with red dyed buffalo wool (recycled) gown. She sees her collection as a series of art pieces. I love wearable art and could see myself at Art and Fashion events, as well as to the many festivals we have in Vancouver.
Dorcas is from Ghana, West Africa and has been here for 9 years. She is also studying at Langara.(Business Management) Her designs are printed on fabric and she does beadwork as well. Themes of racism, civil rights movements as in Freedom Riders and Selma and skin tones: black and white. Strength, empowerment, ethnicity, ability, pride in culture, all can be seen in her choice of vibrant color, pattern and style. The colors suit Sarah and she is holding Dorcas's beautiful dress.
Megan uses old table cloths as fabric for her designs, which she hand embroiders and fastens with vintage buttons. Some of these she finds at button, button, a treasure of a little store on Homer Street, downtown Vancouver. She chooses only fine, eco friendly fabrics and one of her sources is Our Social Fabric, Vancouver. One of the buttons she showed me is made of recycled plastic in Africa.This is a wonderful example of recycling and upcycling projects that women are creating their own businesses from. Megan wants her collection to be practical, wearable and functional for work and leisure. I loved her hand embroidered jump suit for its color, construction and perfect fit pour moi.
Ekta is from England and is Indian. Her embroidery is her own design and she has made patterns for it. It is called paper mache embroidery and is a stand out in her RAJPUTANA Collection. She designs couture gowns and says that she learned everything, here at VCC! Vibrant colors, very unique styles and truly stunning, elegant and taking charge of any room. While her work reflects Indian history and culture, it also very reflective of our multicultural Vancouver. It seems that everyone here brings that extra something special with them and mixes it up to make it a new combination and variation. I can hear music when I look at Ekta's dresses.
Cynthia is inspired by Chinese folk tales and stories her grandfather and father told her about what happened to them during the war in China. Her grandfather escaped into a forest and was surrounded by wolves. When you see her designs, you see the stories and tales she so vividly remembers. She is inspired by nature and is a romantic. She has always loved Art and was involved in painting and other Art events at David Thompson, a local high school, here. At the end of a very long evening, Cynthia was so enthusiastic about her experience at VCC. Her hand stitching and construction skills are beyond what I have seen before. If I were still teaching, I would wear her fabulous clothes because kids love great design, as well as stories.
Kayla's theme (not pictured) is really different. She is looking at imperfections in skin, scars, burns, wrinkles, as a contrast to the constant images of perfection that we are bombarded with. And so, her work is layered, textured and a raising of awareness about the body and how it might be as opposed to an unattainable standard sized flawless mannequin that we see in magazines and on screen. She likes ready to wear and would also like to work in Product Development.
Congratulations Designers and Staff. Thank you for a captivating evening! Ever onward and looking forward to the red carpet!
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