Work
it • For
coverage of the Rags II Rhythym Fashion
Show see page 13. Tracey Roman / Online
Forty-Niner
Fashion students focus on leadership, success, design
By Amber Muranaka
Online Forty-Niner
Assisstant City Editor
As fashion industry professionals watched for new talent to hire, students showcased
various coats, skirts, blouses, dresses and more at the 18th annual “Campus
Couture 2006” in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center Friday night.
Approximately 60 textiles and clothing majors designed 200 garments for the sold-out
show. Cal State Long Beach students and professional models strutted down the
runway, modeling the outfits as the audience cheered loudly.
Several awards were given out at the end of the show. Kimberly Phi won the computerized
flat pattern award. Kaci Kasmir won for tailoring. Casey Lum won for draping.
Katherine Wallace, a junior, won for advanced flat pattern and the Most Marketable
Design Award. Steven Cateron won for experimental clothing and the Best of Show
Award.
This was Wallace’s second year in the fashion show, which she said becomes
more competitive each year.
“
Last year had a lot more excitement going into the show,” Wallace
said. “This year the excitement wasn’t until the show was about to
happen and you finally realize what you’ve worked so hard on all year long… When
you see your outfits out there, you notice how much you’ve progressed.
I’ve improved so much from last year to this year. The competition gets
harder every year, that’s the big difference.”
Students have the spring semester to prepare their designs for the fashion show.
The garments are based on the specifics of the class, such as computerized flat
patterns, tailoring, draping and experimental clothing.
The show was judged by fashion industry professionals, including Bobby Chapman,
senior designer for 310 shoes; Melissa De La Cruz, an author and well-known fashionista;
Johnny Pearson, designer for Tankfarm clothing; Michelle Kelchak, senior designer
for Michelle K Shoes; and Christian Weber, designer for Rock and Republic.
Aside from judging, industry professionals checked out designs in hopes of finding
students for internships and jobs. Many industry contacts and designers were
also in attendance, along with families and friends of the designing students
and models.
Students in the fashion promotion and sales class raised funds for the show.
This year’s coordinators were Abbi Greer Klausner, Denise Aragon, Montalbano
and Mariel Fernandez.
The coordinators have a year to plan and organize the fashion show.
“
It was rough,” said Klausner, a senior fashion merchandising major. “And
it is hard to be in charge of people who are your own age. You have to weigh
your leadership with your personal involvement... looking back, we had a year
to plan it and having a year was amazing. I can’t imagine having any less
time.”
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