On May 6, Maine East’s fashion students, also known as the FashionEASTas, hosted their 6th annual Runway Review featuring work from approximately 70 fashion students. The show included designs in multiple different categories including “The Bottom Line,” “Global Threads” and “Cozy Couture” by Fashion 1 students, “Autumn Edit” by Fashion 2, 3 and 4 students, “Little Blue Crew” and “Fashion Flashback” by Fashion 2 students, “Final Fit” by Fashion 3 and 4 students, and a senior send off at the end of the show titled “Graduation Glam.”
During the show, students’ designs were viewed by the audience and evaluated by a panel of local fashion industry professionals. The judges evaluated the designs based on pattern and fabric selection, marketability and overall appearance and styling.
The show’s designers are students taking Fashion 1, Fashion 2, Fashion 3 and Fashion 4 classes, which provides a comprehensive study into the fashion industry. Before designing anything, students are challenged to create their own fashion label and logo. The students then move on to develop a target consumer and reflect on what type of fashion designer they would like to emulate.
For each project, students begin by researching and creating a moodboard for inspiration and sketching out ideas. Their designs are then brought to life by carefully selecting fabric and applying various construction techniques in the sewing of their garments. Finally, students learn merchandising and marketing skills in authentic experiences, such as in creating their own retail store in the fall, creating a store website and producing the spring Runway Review.
The fashion classes are a year long and students typically make four to five pieces a year, some designs taking weeks while others, like prom dresses, take months. At the Runway Review, students showcased three to eight pieces with seniors doing a mini collection for their spring semester plus two pieces in the fall.
“Preparing for the annual fashion show is a whirlwind but also an exciting time for students to feel the pressure of a real deadline,” expresses Maine East Fashion Teacher Jillian Ristow. “They have the opportunity for an audience to see their work with their name on it. This authentic experience leaves students feeling truly proud of what they have done.”