A vintage Motley Crue tee-shirt riding atop a cast-off long skirt and worn but shiny shoes completed the all-black ensemble for Standley Lake High School senior Sara Serrano. She and her friend and designer Allison Espinoza took about a month to piece together Serrano’s outfit.
Their work was unveiled Friday at the student-led sustainable fashion show at Standley Lake High School. Five other student models and designers made their debuts as well, before the entire student body during an all-school assembly that was capped off by a fashion show.
Serrano admitted in the few minutes before she walked onto the Standley Lake’s gym “cat walk” she was a little nervous but proud of what she and Espinoza created.
“We wanted to do something that was a grunge classic,” Serrano said. “I have never done anything like this before. But I feel very comfortable. I am happy with how it looks.”
The student crowd all liked what they saw, applauding Serrano as she walked confidently onto center stage, displayed her outfit, and then exited with a smile. “Yeah,” she said, “I think it went well.”
Thrifty designs
The models all used secondhand clothing provided free of charge by Plato’s Closet Westminster. They wanted to show they could take gently used items and turn them into new designs using sewing, reconstruction, and creative styling techniques, said Charlotte Magee, owner of Plato’s Closet Westminster.
It was all done under the tutelage of Magee and fashion and design teacher Danielle McCracken, who is known for fostering creativity and teamwork in her highly popular classes, Magee said.
Some students formed design teams and spent weeks reimagining their pieces, creating unique runway looks that highlight both personal expression and environmental responsibility, Magee said in a news release.
Other students dived into the marketing and logistics for the fashion show, Magee said.
She said Friday that many teens are turning away from the assembly-line fashions produced and displayed by major department stores. Instead, they are looking to make their own fashion statements that are also environmentally friendly.
“High schoolers are leading the charge for taking advantage of resale products,” Magee said. “About two-thirds of teens see being thrifty as part of shopping.”
The Standley Lake project “shows that you don’t have to buy new to have great style — by choosing resale and reworking existing pieces, we can reduce waste and keep clothing out of landfills while still staying on trend,” she said.
The Standley Lake project will also show students that working together is key in producing the best fashion, Magee said.
“When students can collaborate, create, and see their work showcased, it builds confidence and shows them they can be creative problem-solvers – and real change makers in their communities,” she said in the news release.
Espinoza said the work she did with her friend may have sparked an interest in exploring fashion design.
“I have always liked the fashion world, I like the creativity,” Espinoza said. “I think it’s something I’d like to do.”
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