With an eye on the April 2 deadline, student designers have submitted plans for their garments, selected the fabrics, met with models, updated directors and feverishly worked to complete all the details – each button, each piece of lace, each seam, each garnishment and each hem – to perfection on time.
The Liberty University Fashion Show is returning. The FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences) department arranges the annual fashion show, allowing student designers to create a garment from scratch for presentation on a model selected through an open casting call. The designers present their garments during the fashion show to a panel of judges and their peers, family and friends.
This year marks the 16th FACS department show. The theme – “Blueprint Couture: Where Fashion Meets Architecture” – was revealed at the designer interest meeting this past fall. Matalie Howard, the fashion show’s director and associate chair of the FACS department, has dreamed of bringing this idea to life for many years. For Howard, the show gives students the opportunity to develop their skills, taking information they have learned in the classroom and preparing it for a professional level presentation.
“The goal each year is for my students to get experience creating real garments,” Howard said. “Students looking to get a job in this industry must have experiences like this.”
With the show now in full production, model practices have begun, guiding the models through the show’s basics and equipping them with both technique and confidence. The 28 designers participate in monthly “progress checks” to show the directors how their designs are progressing.
By Thursday, Feb. 24, Howard expects designers to have 80% of their garment done. At that point, designers have a little over a month until the show, and they must ensure garments meet the deadline for final dress rehearsals in late March.
Student designer Moriah Whitlow is currently in the process of constructing her garment for the fashion show. Whitlow, a senior fashion design major, will pay homage to her family through her first time creating an entire piece.
What drew Whitlow to the show?
Whitlow heard about the fashion show but found it difficult to put herself out there in such a vulnerable way.
This year, however, Whitlow felt the Lord calling her to participate.
“Being in the fashion design program, you always hear about the show,” Whitlow said. “I think I was just scared to go for it, but I prayed about it a lot.”
With encouragement from her friends, she attended the designer interest meeting. There, she felt called to dive in, so she did.
Who inspires Whitlow fashion-wise?
Whitlow explained that before she said yes to Jesus, all she wanted to do was fit in. She said she never thought outside the box or had a passion for one thing in particular. Dedicating her life to Christ brought new passions and new hope for something greater. Whitlow credits all her creativity to the Lord.
During this time, she noticed that her grandmothers and mom possessed skills in sewing and fashion. Whitlow said even though they never had an abundance of money, her grandmothers always knew how to upcycle old pieces into elaborate and well-constructed garments.
“They were always so resourceful,” Whitlow said. “Even if we did not have a trillion dollars, they would still make the most beautiful things out of what we had.”
What has this process looked like?
Whitlow’s family has supported her entire process. She intends to honor her mom and dad because of everything they have done to help her. From the beginning, her family assisted Whitlow by collecting fabrics and material. Whitlow explained that in the creation of her garment, she wants to pursue excellence. This has resulted in a slower creation process, but she believes it is worth it. She would rather have a quality garment that took longer to make than a simpler piece created quickly.
The fashion show will take place on April 2. Tickets will be on sale in the coming weeks. More information about the show can be found on Instagram @lufacsfashionshow.
Farmerie is a Champion contributor.