Orange Coast College’s fashion club made a statement at the Pirate Involvement Fair on Tuesday. The club drew student interest with interactive activities and brought in a large crowd early in the event through its creative approach.
The fashion club allowed students to create their own buttons, during which members could promote the club’s vision and activities outside of school, such as field trips.
Students created their own buttons at the booth, while members promoted the club’s field trips.
About an hour into the event, the club had already begun expanding its community, adding 15 new members, according to club president Phoenix Gaffney.
“To us this is so much more than just a club,” Gaffney said. “We are creating a community, friendships and connections with students who have similar interests.”
Gaffney said the club prides itself on its inclusivity because the fashion industry itself is diverse and “fashion is for everyone.”
The connections made through the club can open doors to other opportunities in the fashion industry. Fashion club Vice President Brianna Bourdeau Rubio has firsthand experience with this.
“One of the girls I had met last year through the club, whom I’ve remained friends with, actually invited me to help her with styling for a photoshoot at Chapman,” Bourdeau Rubio said.
The club has also expanded its connections within the school with the rocketry program.
“I had never thought we would be involved with the rocketry program,” Bourdeau Rubio said. “But when they reached out to us and asked if we could design a parachute for them, I thought it was a really cool idea.”
Members of the club can use Coast Collective and The Box to display and sell their designs. The club plans on having collections for events and holidays in the near future.
“For Earth Day, we are going to teach our members how to sew, and come out with a collection that is completely upcycled,” Vo said.