PULLMAN, Wash.—Cougar couture—from ski wear to red-carpet finery to repurposed garments made from tents, seeds and football jerseys—will take to the runway during Washington State University’s Mom’s Weekend in mid-April.
The fashion show, hosted and produced by students and faculty of WSU’s Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles (AMDT), will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, in Beasley Coliseum. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $12 at http://TicketsWest.com and Beasley Coliseum. They will cost $15 at the door.
The theme of the 30th annual show is “Boundless Expression,” as illustrated by AMDT junior Lizzy Carrell of Bothell, Wash., in publicity materials.
Despite a slowly rebounding economy, the fashion show continues to be one of the more affordable events on campus during Mom’s Weekend, said Bailey Stokes, AMDT instructor and the show’s director for two years. The show is also the perfect environment for students to thrive in a real-life experience.
“I think there’s a level of camaraderie that develops among students and faculty that you don’t get in a traditional classroom setting,” Stokes said. “And it’s fun to see students step up to the challenge of making a production like this successful.”
The 2013 senior designers include Shateara Cornmesser of Spangle, Wash.; Kalli Deleon of Cle Elum, Wash.; Breda Fitzgerald of Pullman; Christopher Fitzgerald of Tacoma, Wash.; Breanna Guerrero of Kennewick, Wash.; Sze Nga Lau of Hong Kong, China; Toru Okuyama of Vancouver, Wash.; Robyn Olson of Edgewood, Wash.; Katie Patchin of Lacey, Wash.; Deborah Rodriquez of Lynnwood, Wash.; Man Ling Tsang of Hong Kong; Stephanie Wilson of Odessa, Wash.; and Merrill Worlund of Allyn, Wash.
Back by popular demand will be sustainable garments created by students out of recycled materials. For example, Okuyama made a winter coat from old tents. Four students—Cornmesser, Breda Fitzgerald, Guerrero and Lau—created dresses from recycled seed, mesh and shopping bags.
Patchin, whose father is a coach, recycled old football jerseys into a long evening gown. Wilson incorporated painted corn husks and kernels in her dress. Other designs make use of red plastic drinking cups and aluminum pop cans.
“There were a lot of different materials used to create the garments, and that’s kind of neat,” said Catherine Black, AMDT associate professor. “You can see the time the students put in.”
AMDT juniors will be part of the show for the third year, Stokes said. They will present work from two first-semester AMDT classes, creative adaptations of a “boyfriend” shirt, tailored jackets and an original design project.
“I think we have a good group of students this year,” she said. “It should be a lot of fun, but also crazy. You end up eating, breathing and living fashion show.”
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