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MetroED’s fashion design program has red carpet moment

  • April 1, 2024

Winner by design

The Metropolitan Education District (MetroED) was recently honored by the Santa Clara County School Boards Association for a program that helps students pattern a career in the fashion industry.

MetroED’s Fashion Design and Textile Art program was among the recipients of the association’s 2024 Glen Hoffmann Exemplary Award, named after a former county schools superintendent. The award will be presented at a May 8 dinner.

Launched in 2013 as part of MetroED’s  Silicon Valley Career Technical Education’s curriculum, the Fashion Design and Textile Art program allows students to explore illustration, graphic design, screen printing and cosmetology while honing their sewing and pattern-making skills. Enrollment has doubled since the program launched, and last year 96 percent of students earned a certificate of competency, with 41 students earning college credit. Twenty-two percent of its students are male, exceeding the state benchmark for nontraditional student enrollment.

MetroED is governed by a joint powers agreement between South Bay high school districts including Campbell Union High School District.

Habitat Restoration Day

Bay Area Older Adults is seeking volunteers April 19 to help restore the Alviso wetlands for the birds, insects and mammals that call the area home. Volunteers will help with raking and mulching to prepare the area for native plants. All activities will be done standing up, and supplies and tools will be provided in addition to snacks, lunch and a bottle of water.

The Habitat Restoration Day runs 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit https://www.bayareaolderadults.org/bao-culture.

 

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Find Out How This British Designer Went From A Career In Theater And Fashion To Design

  • March 8, 2024

Prolific designer Lee Broom creates cutting-edge products that explore innovation yet have a classic quality and are inspired by the past. Born in Birmingham in 1976, he started as a child actor on TV and in theater and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. His father, a talented artist, taught him how to draw and paint. After winning a fashion design competition at the age of 17, he interned under Vivienne Westwood and studied at the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London. He discusses his debut and making the transition from theater and fashion design to furniture and interiors.

You were born in Birmingham in 1976. Tell me about your background, your parents and what your childhood was like. Did any of your family members work in design? How, when and why did you realize you wanted to build things and get into design?

My father is a talented artist, and I remember him teaching me how to draw and to paint. I loved architecture and I loved drawing, but later on as a teenager, I became more interested in fashion design, Although I spent my childhood training as an actor and later focusing on a career in fashion, I have always loved design and I cannot remember any point of my life where I have not drawn or sketched.

How did you go from theater and fashion design to furniture and interiors, and how do these interests inform your work today?

As you mention, I trained as a professional actor as a child until I was 17, and later developed an interest in a career in fashion. I entered and won a competition at 17 called Young Designer of the

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Future fashion designers swap scissors for software and sustainability

  • February 28, 2024

“Fashion students used to be very technophobic,” Shenkar College of Engineering and Design fashion design department lecturer Gilly Bahat-Eshkol tells ISRAEL21c.

It’s understandable that budding designers relish the tactile experience of handling textiles and sewing physical samples.

But in a world where textile production and waste are monumental polluters and shipping is expensive, polluting and unreliable, the art of creating apparel has by necessity gone digital. 

Gen Z fashion students, says Bahat-Eshkol, are loving the infinite innovations that digital design tools afford them while making patternmaking, rendering and sampling more sustainable and environmentally friendly. 

They will enter the workforce fully familiar with tools such as lifelike avatars enabling them to visualize an outfit in 3D in a variety of colors, materials and sizes — avoiding the need for multiple samples to be sewed and shipped from China.

Here’s a look at how three Israeli fashion-design departments are using Israeli and other technologies to prepare their students for entering an industry that increasingly demands dexterity in digital design.

Zero waste

Shenkar’s fashion design department, led by Ilan Beja, acquaints students with technologies that allow them to minimize or avoid cutting and producing outfits before the design is approved. 

Among the Israeli companies whose technologies have been used in Shenkar fashion-design courses are Kornit Digital to reduce use of water and print only what is needed; Optitex for digital patternmaking; and Browzwear for 3D “concept to clothing” digital design.

Shenkar student May Sonego’s digital design. Photo courtesy of Gilly Bahat Eshkol
Shenkar student May Sonego’s digital design. Photo courtesy of Gilly Bahat Eshkol

Bahat-Eshkol and technology coordinator Ana Solo launched their “Zero Waste 3D” fashion design course, merging design and technology, for second-year Shenkar students even before the pandemic, which further contributed to technological global shifts.

Shenkar Fashion Design Department senior lecturer and technology coordinator Ana Solo, left, and Shenkar Fashion Design Department lecturer and designer Gilly Bahat Eshkol wearing digital garments. Photo courtesy of Gilly Bahat Eshkol
Shenkar Fashion Design Department senior lecturer and technology coordinator Ana Solo, left, and Shenkar Fashion Design Department lecturer
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A brief look at the long history of First Nations fashion design in Australia

  • December 25, 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, and links to old newspaper stories and research papers using outdated and potentially offensive terminology.

The ABC’s series The Way We Wore takes a look at stories of Australian fashion design and style.

First Nations people participated in the series and spoke about various periods and tales, looking at forced clothing policies during the Stolen Generation period, the contribution of Flinders Ranges/Adnyamathanha knowledge to the creation of the RM Williams iconic boot, and the emergence of First Nations fashion design from the 1970s and at Parisian fashion shows in the 1980s.

Yet, left out from the show was the rich backstory of our First Nations fashion design industry.

Prior to Parisian fashion shows, First Nations people showcased handmade clothing and accessories at 1800s international and national exhibitions, often as unpaid labour.

Earlier still, the making and crafting of animal and plant cloaks, skirts, belts, shoes and accessories were the original fashion designs.



Read more:
‘The first designers and models of this world’: attending the 2023 National Indigenous Fashion Awards

Traditional clothing and adornment

Climates, materials and stories guided traditional fashion design.

Items were crafted from natural materials that eventually returned to the environment.

Footwear was made from animal skins, furs, and feathers, human hair and bark.

Group outside a bark shelter with possum skin cloaks in Victoria, photographed between 1860-1909.
State Library of New South Wales

Cloaks were made from animal skin and plants, often inscribed with designs that reflected a person’s identity.

Intricate jewellery and accessories included head ornaments, necklaces, mourning caps, belts and bags, some made from highly traded pearl shells and rare seashells.

Today, we are seeing a resurgence around the country of these

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‘This is Happening’ event series blends poetry, fashion design

  • December 13, 2023

James Island-based artist Rolf Anthony Young created “This is Happening,” an event series blending poetry and fashion, after attending an open mic poetry night hosted by FreeVerse Poetry Festival. 

As he listened to the poets with his eyes closed, he began to envision what it would look like to showcase fashion alongside poetry performance. He designed a shirt and gifted it to North Charleston-based poet Chris Wynn to wear during a performance. 

“I made some shirts, and Chris wore one to an open mic,” Young said. “He walked up on stage and performed. It was beautiful, and then the seed was planted, like, ‘Oh, there’s something here.’” 

The interactivity of open mic events also inspired Young to create this new format, as he sees fashion shows as often passive events.

“Let’s combine [the fashion show] with a poetry influence, so not only do you see something, but you hear something, and you might feel something, too,” he said. 

Next event

In the months following their first meeting, Young brought on Wynn as the creative director for the This is Happening event series, and the two, along with Yasmine Mobley and Summer Juliana, planned their first event in September 2023 at Commonhouse Aleworks in Park Circle. 

The first event highlighted poets wearing already-completed fashion designs by Young. Young and Wynn used the sidewalks as runways and poets performed on Commonhouse Aleworks’ stage. 

“We had about five weeks to put together the first show. It was really a learning experience,” Young said. “At that time, a lot of the clothes were made, so I didn’t have to manipulate the fashion as much. I just had to have the fashion coexist with the venue and see if the poets would be willing to accept the task.”

The second free-to-attend event in the

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10 Best AI Fashion Designer Tools (November 2023)

  • December 1, 2023

In the ever-evolving world of fashion, the fusion of creativity and technology opens up unprecedented avenues for designers. The latest revolution comes in the form of artificial intelligence (AI), transforming how we conceive, create, and customize fashion. AI is not just a tool; it’s a creative partner that offers endless possibilities to those who dare to imagine and innovate.

Our journey into the realm of AI in fashion brings us to a curated selection of the 10 best AI fashion designer tools. These tools are more than just software; they are gateways to a new era of design, where intuition meets data, style blends with algorithmic precision, and artistic vision is augmented by machine intelligence.

As we delve into each tool, we’ll explore how AI is redefining the boundaries of fashion design. Whether you’re a seasoned designer looking to incorporate AI into your workflow or an enthusiast curious about the future of fashion, this guide will help you navigate the exciting landscape of AI-assisted fashion design.

Image: The New Black

In the dynamic and fast-paced world of fashion, The New Black emerges as a groundbreaking platform at the confluence of fashion design and AI. This platform is a boon for designers and brands, enabling them to bring unique and original fashion designs to life in just seconds.

With The New Black, a simple description of a concept is all it takes for the AI to visualize and create it, offering an unprecedented level of customization and speed that outstrips traditional design methodologies.

This platform’s remarkable feature lies in its ability to consistently generate completely unique designs, ensuring that designers’ originality and creativity remain at the forefront. The New Black caters to a wide array of design categories, from cutting-edge footwear and luxurious handbags to elaborate 3D-printed wedding dresses.

Features:

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3 Mexican fashion designers you need to wear

  • November 14, 2023

Fashion design is a living art, an ever-evolving narrative that weaves together the past, the present, and the future. In doing so, it redefines what it means to be fashionable in a world filled with creativity, tradition, and innovation. 

Mexican fashion design is a vibrant reflection of a country that is geographically diverse and rich in heritage, where ancient traditions and contemporary creativity merge seamlessly.

In this exploration of Mexican fashion design, we will meet three remarkable designers who are elevating Mexico to the global stage. 

Alexia Ulibarri: Embracing Mexican folklore in high-end women’s fashion

Alexia Ulibarri has carved a niche for herself, placing Mexican folklore at the heart of her brand, catering to the contemporary luxury market for women. Her journey from a young enthusiast to a designer dressing global celebrities is a testament to her passion for fashion.

Alexia Ulibarri hails from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and discovered fashion early in life. This fascination led her to pursue studies in pattern-making in her hometown, but her ambitions pushed her to explore the world. In 2003, she ventured to London to gain professional training in fashion design at The London College of Fashion, the Instituto Marangoni, and Central Saint Martins. These formative years abroad shaped her vision, and in 2009, she launched her brand, ALEXIA ULIBARRI. 

Look 29 • Acid pastel lace ensemble at Fashion Week Mexico (Instagram)

She describes the women who wear Alexia Ulibarri’s creations as confident, feminine, proud of their roots, and elegantly comfortable. Her designs blend contrasting elements, incorporating androgynous cuts and loose silhouettes without sacrificing the celebration of the natural beauty of the feminine form.

Fashion enthusiasts and clients can explore Alexia Ulibarri’s exclusive boutiques in Mexico City, Cancún, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Israel. An appointment at her boutique is an option

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‘You better work’: Boise Fashion Week set to showcase industry’s local creators

  • October 23, 2023

“I am super, super proud to be able to showcase fashion design in my home state.” | The first Boise Fashion Week begins at 7 p.m. Friday and runs through Sunday.

BOISE, Idaho — Calling all fashionistas! This weekend kicks off the first ever Boise Fashion Week. Events like this are often heard about in bigger cities like New York or Los Angeles, but what can people expect in Boise? 

Erica Becker is the producer behind Boise Fashion Week, and as a business owner, she said she saw a need for this.

“Boise Fashion Week is a nonprofit collective of various professionals from the fashion industry ranging from photography, designers, stage crew, that have all come together to really push the needle forward for the fashion industry here in Boise,” Becker said. “I think a lot of people have really been craving something like this.”

The event kicks off on Friday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m., and goes through the Oct. 22. Each night showcases something different and has a different theme.

“So, sustainable night is going to be a lot of collections that are kind of vintage inspired, or designers are really focused on sourcing sustainable products that use like less water, recycled materials, maybe even unique materials. Ready to wear is going to be collections that are almost like production ready,” Becker said. “Special occasion is going to be more of like bridal prom, fundraising opportunity gowns and tuxedos.”

Boise Fashion Week will feature established and local fashion designers, like Cartier Dior Eliasen from Pocatello. Her love of fashion design started when she was just 9 years old.

“I started making dresses out of like paper discarded materials, literally anything I could get my hands on,” Eliasen said. “When I was 16, I was a contestant on

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Peruvian designer brings styles to Fashion Week Columbus runway

  • September 30, 2023

Now making his home in central Ohio, Juan Saenz-Ferreyros’ designs have been worn by Columbus’s own Nina West and Miss Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Fashion designer Juan Saenz-Ferreyros’s clothes have been worn by countless celebrities around the world and, especially, in his home country of Peru, including by Miss Peru. 

Now making his home in central Ohio, his designs have been worn by Columbus’s own Nina West and Miss Ohio. Making his sixth appearance this year at the 14th annual Fashion Week Columbus, Ferreyros designed collections for both the High Fashion Tea runway show as well as the finale.

“This year for the fashion week, my collection is fabulous,” said Ferreyros. “I’m presenting many dresses with furs — fake furs — in bright colors.”

Ferreyros comes from a long line of artists. His father was an engineer and musician. One ancestor designed uniforms for the Peruvian military and another was recognized for her prowess with a Singer sewing machine. His brother and sister are both painters; fashion designers, jewelry designers – the creativity on display from Ferryros’s family is seemingly endless.

“Art is in my family, so I continued this; I like the fashion,” he explained.

But for Ferreyros, his decision to pursue a career in fashion design was not always met with acceptance in his home country or even his childhood home. 

Ferreyros remembers that, when he was a child, activities were usually divided along gendered lines. When it was time for him to attend university, Ferreyros studied to become a journalist. But, once he had completed his education, he went home and told his father that his true passion was in the pursuit of fashion design.

“My father was so very angry,” Ferreyros remembered. “He said, ‘I don’t want this for you.’ So, it was very

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attending the 2023 National Indigenous Fashion Awards

  • August 23, 2023

The Darwin winter sunset encircled the city with a brilliant gold. As the crowd anticipated the start of the annual Indigenous fashion parades, the room turned dark, and a lone figure appeared.

As the first model walked, the crowd cheered, excited to see the show they had waited a year to attend.

Throughout two shows, Our Legacy and Our Heart, First Nations models of diverse ages and sizes almost outshone the striking garments they wore.

Designs from 22 labels and collaborations represented the heart and soul of the designers, artists and makers, many who journeyed very long distances for the opportunity to tell their stories through fashion design and art.

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair has concluded for another year with more than 70 exhibitors and a successful fashion program. The Indigenous Fashion Projects festival grows in size and quality every year, showing the potential for First Nations fashion – like art and music – to become defining features of Australian life.

Yet beyond the lights, makeup and action, people in the First Nations fashion industry just want their voices to be heard. They see their contributions to fashion, textile design and modelling as contributing to cultural tradition, economics and cultural sustainability, and blak pride and storytelling.



Read more:
‘Cultural expression through dress’: towards a definition of First Nations fashion

Cultural tradition

The day after the parades, the annual National Indigenous Fashion Awards were held in the beautiful open air. This also provided a moving ceremony as we celebrated the work of 66 First Nations artists, designers and collaborators.

Nearly all the winners referred to the ongoing and living cultural traditions that inform their work, generally framed as female and working with and learning from Elders.

“All those old ladies have passed away but they’re still holding us up,” said

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