Deconstructed Treasures, the Fashion Design AAS program’s fall exhibition, is on display from November 30 through December 4 in the John E. Reeves Great Hall, opening with a reception Tuesday, November 29, from 6 to 9 pm. The work is by students graduating in December.
When a garment is “deconstructed,” the elements of its construction are made more visible. The students drew inspiration from construction methods in architecture, molecular structures in science, fine art, and even musical trends to create garments that showcase what is usually unseen. Their design processes focus on the experimental, with details such as asymmetry and irregularity, diminishing of gender-specificity, imperfections, shredding, tearing, distressing, atypical use of pattern and clothing parts, and unusual volumes and proportions.
The road to the exhibition began at the start of the semester, when each of the classes was assigned a professional designer as a mentor and critic, along with their faculty member. The critics and faculty guided the students throughout the semester, helping them to develop the concepts that have become their final designs. Each critic then selected a winner from his or her class worthy of their Critic Award.
The students in the Fashion Design AAS program learn their craft in two years. The elements of the program not only include the basics—sewing, patternmaking, and draping—but also drawing the figure, which helps students to really see the human form.
The Critic Award winners are Kyle Brogan, Collection I; Whitney Baldwin, Collection II; Loucine Tahmasian, Collection III; and Astrid Perez, Collection IV. Melany Corchado won for Outstanding Design Interpretation (art) and Simin Wang won for Conceptual Design Presentation (art).
The critics were Ronnie Eliyahu, design director, Fleet Street, Vince Camuto Outerwear; Bridgette Raes, Bridgette Raes Style Group; Zahir Babvani, vice president, Design, Fullbeauty Brands; and Lawrence Rich, Lawrence Rich, Ltd. The art critic was Cristina Ottaviano.
Apparel faculty are Nelly Carbonell-Corujo, Jaye Edelstein, Philippa Lindenthal, and Juliette Solomon. Art faculty are Andrew Liu, Steven Stipelman, and Mary Bridgman.
