Fashion Design and Merchandising junior Sam Lopatowski received first place in the Honors Contract Contest for her project, “Reaping What We Sew: Hand-Sewing Techniques to Increase the Life of Your Closet,” created in the FCS 122: Apparel Product Development course. What began as a class project has become a lasting teaching resource currently used in the course to support student learning.
Lopatowski’s idea was rooted in her own experience as a beginner. After struggling to find tutorials that clearly explained the basics, she decided to create the kind of video she wished she had when her journey to fashion began. “Hand-sewing is a great starting point because it’s affordable and doesn’t require specialized equipment,” she said.
To make the content more relatable, she incorporated humor inspired by popular YouTubers and her high school background in theatre and speech, blending clear instruction with personality in a way that resonates with students.
Creativity, teaching, and a passion for sustainability
For Lopatowski, the project was more than just an academic requirement; it was an opportunity to combine her passion for teaching with her interest in creativity and sustainability. “My favorite part was being able to share knowledge,” she said. “I love teaching, and it was important to me to highlight fashion waste and pollution in a creative way that people don’t usually think about.”
Her instructor, Dr. Jennifer Banning, professor of Fashion Design and Merchandising, immediately saw the project’s potential. “Sam is an incredibly hardworking and creative student,” Banning said. “She came to me with a fully developed idea at the very beginning of the project, which is rare. When I saw the final video, I was blown away because it far exceeded what I typically see in Honors projects.”
Banning also noted that Lopatowski’s work stood out for its ability to connect with students in a meaningful way. “She blended humor, clear demonstrations, and a relatable setting to make the content engaging and effective,” Banning said. “It revealed a whole new side of her creativity.”
Lasting impact in the classroom and beyond
Now integrated into the FCS 122 classroom, Lopatowski’s video is making a measurable impact on student engagement and learning. “Because it’s created by a peer, students connect with it immediately,” Banning explained. “Sam’s Honors Contract video is concise, approachable, and has encouraged more conversations about repairing clothing instead of throwing it away, and it’s one of the most effective teaching tools I’ve used.”
Winning first place in the Honors Contract Contest was a meaningful milestone for Lopatowski. “It feels surreal,” she said. “I was proud of the project when I submitted it, but winning and knowing it’s being used in the classroom is more than I imagined.”
“In five years, I still want to be creating, sewing, and collaborating with other people to make designs, but I also want to make sure that the core of sustainability stays at the heart of what I do.“
—Sam Lopatwski
Looking ahead, Sam hopes to build a career in fashion design while keeping sustainability at the center of her work. “I want to design for either a large company or a small business,” she said. “In five years, I still want to be creating, sewing, and collaborating with other people to make designs, but I also want to make sure that the core of sustainability stays at the heart of what I do.”
She urges everyone to address fashion waste now before it is too late.
For more information about Fashion Design and Merchandising in the College of Applied Science and Technology, visit the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences website.