Show to feature iconic fashion

“Lights. Camera. Fashion. Iconic Design.”

That is the theme for the 6th annual Family and Consumer Science (FACS) department’s fashion show. The theme and plans for the upcoming fashion show were announced to a group of 30 designers who met in the Reber Thomas executive dining room to attend the Family and Consumer Science (FACS) department’s Launch Party on Oct. 25.

Prospective designers were warmly welcomed by this year’s fashion show director, Ruth Bibby, who gave a short, informative presentation on the theme and explained exactly what the show was about.

The theme of the fashion show was chosen in honor of iconic designers of the fashion industry, such as Ralph Lauren, Dolce and Gabbana and Oscar De La Renta.

“A student is going to take a name of an iconic designer that they can associate their designs with, not just one that they know,” Bibby said. “They are taking designs from the past and putting them in the present.”

The designers were all given a handbook at the beginning of the meeting, letting them know of the benefits of being a designer in the show, the requirements, the date of model casting and meetings and due dates that they must meet.

“You really have to know what you are doing. It makes your knowledge grow in the fashion industry and that is something that we are really trying to push this year,” Junior Katie Johnson said. “The word ‘professional’ is something we want to implement in everything and every aspect.”

This will be Johnson’s third year being involved with the show. The first two years she acted as a designer herself and this year as the show’s assistant director.

“It is nice because with the current designers coming in this year, they each have a leadership team with me and Ruth and even Mrs. Howard,” Johnson said. “They have all different angles. Ruth was a model, I was a designer and Mrs. Howard was an event coordinator.”

The preparation for the FACS fashion show started with the Launch Party and ends March 24, 2012, with the show.

The show is open to the public and is being judged by a panel, giving the designers the opportunity to be awarded prizes in the categories of best in show, originality, menswear, childrenswear and runway presentation.

According to Bibby, there were over 1,200 people in attendance at last year’s show, including sponsors from the Lynchburg area.

“This is my third year doing the show. It is a lot of fun. It stretches my imagination as far as sewing goes,” senior designer Kariann Durst said.

According to Durst, the challenge is in creating a unique design instead of simply choosing a pattern and sewing it together.

The FACS fashion show has taken place every spring semester for the past five years. It is a chance for designers to come and get to know other designers and enhance their creative talents. The event is held during the spring College for a Weekend (CFAW) in the Schilling Center. Some of the proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to the charity Threads of Hope.

“We really wanted to support a charity that is excited about what they’re trying to accomplish and is helping support fair trade in struggling countries,” Bibby said. “Since we are a fashion show, I found that the title and mission of Threads of Hope is so fitting. It’s giving people a fair chance to work for their money, and it fights the underground sweatshops that pay workers almost nothing. I’m really excited about having this opportunity to support them.”

For more information, contact Ruth Bibby at rnbibby@liberty.edu, Katie Johnson at krjohnson@liberty.edu or the FACS office in SLAB 122.