Young designers enrolled in one of the Fashion Programs at the Caddo Career and Technology Center have been working hard all school year to create mini collections of original Fashion Designs. These collections will walk the runway LIVE at the first-ever Fashion Forward student fashion show competition hosted and presented by Artbreak.
Designer Surraya Jones (Senior at Caddo Magnet High School) helping model Lasandra Bryant (Captain Shreve High School) into a custom gown.
Five designers are participating in the competition, showing 3 – 6 look collections. Designers Fatima Ramirez, Marianna Murphy, and Surayya Jones are second year CCTC Fashion students; choosing to return as Seniors because they have plans to pursue Fashion Design at the college level. They have used two years of instruction to guide them in creating their custom clothing. Josalyn Walters and Rhys Gaudet are first year CCTC Fashion students that came into the program with sewing experience and a lot of motivation to grow as strong designers. They each have a unique perspective on Fashion, with collection themes inspired by strong women, nature, heaven, favorite artists, and favorite movies. Each collection will be judged on technical ability, styling, creativity, and cohesiveness. Prizes will be awarded for Best Styling, Most Original, People’s Choice and Best Overall.
This show has been two years in the making, with plans for the first student fashion show to debut in May of 2019. Unfortunately, as for a lot of student activities that year; the Covid 19 Pandemic derailed plans, with students mostly finished sewing their collections and ready to go. The following year, the show was canceled again because of safety measures in place. Because of the hard work and efforts of these former students, they have been invited back to show their original designs in the Alumni portion of the show that evening. There is also a chance for some of the other current students to showcase their Fashion Designs in the Single Design Showcase.
Another chance for students not enrolled in the Caddo Career and Technology Center to get in on the Fashion fun that week is with a Fashion Design Masterclass held Thursday, May 12. Fashion Instructors, Ann Chandler and Cookie DuBois, will give young fashionistas a chance to experience a taste of what a Fashion Design course is like. Students will rotate through stations like Fashion Sketching, Sewing, Draping, and more. To sign up, students will contact their high school counselors.
To join the Fashion fun yourself, save the date and head on down to the Shreveport Convention Center on Friday May 13th at 6 PM. In the meantime, check out the Caddo Career and Technology Center Facebook page as they share videos from each of the young designers. A new designer is featured every week leading up to the show on Fashion Fridays. Be inspired by the student designers and support them at Fashion Forward, hosted by Artbreak!