Since January, seven students have diligently prepared their Senior Design Showcase wardrobes — a total of four outfits each.
Their hard work was displayed at the soft opening last Friday, with the final showcase in the East Gallery of Ridenbaugh Hall from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 10.
Lori Wahl, senior capstone course instructor, said the showcase is based on each student creating their own collection for an identified consumer of their choice.
Students spent the first four weeks or so of the semester creating sketchbooks to brainstorm thoughts, ideas and inspiration. And the last nine weeks were spent solidifying their concepts by sewing, testing and revising.
Lori Wahl | Courtesy
“They are very real collections that could potentially be sold,” Wahl said. “Essentially, each student chose four brands they were inspired by for their collection and made their pieces based off of what they thought was a gap in the market.”
She spent all her time working one-on-one with each individual to create distinct styles. Each student added their own custom component to their outfits that could not be bought, such as embroidery, stitching or 3D printing.
“All seven collections are very different and have very individual design aesthetics,” Wahl said. “Hours and hours were spent on each item, but I made sure they balanced their scope of abilities with achievable designs for the time frame they had.”
McKenna Ritcheson, a graduating senior, created a women’s outerwear clothing line — her ideas stemming for her passion of the outdoors and the environment.
“My consumer (product) is for the everyday woman — not necessarily athletes — but rather the weekend hikers, climbers and skiers who want to feel good, strong and confident while still being functional,” Ritcheson said.
She said the entire process was full of heart ache and revision, and taking a step back to create something not only she would like but what her consumer would like.
The entire collection is versatile to provide many ways to wear and combine each garment.
One of her favorite garments is a long sleeve shirt with an edited, abstract print she created of trash in a landfill from her home town of Pocatello, Idaho.
The item is meant to be a conversation starter about the current state of the environment and ways to improve it. It took her two full days to complete between cutting, sewing and matching the grain of the fabric.
“The entire fashion program has been so eye-opening and liberating,” Ritcheson said. “I am so proud and honored of what I have accomplished and to have had the ability to work with the amazing girls and professors I had the chance to.”
Allison Spain can be reached at [email protected]