Students share runway with fashion icons at fashion show
By Gray Chapman
On May 2, SCAD-Atlanta students teamed up with Atlanta design powerhouses Jeffrey and DOMUS for a fashion show benefiting Darfur through Care International. The event was organized by Modern Atlanta, a new design initiative, and included the designs of SCAD fashion students alongside cutting-edge Belgian designers Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester. The innovative furniture design company, Extremis, also exhibited their designs. The event took place at Skylar Morgan Furniture Design, an industrial space in Midtown West.
Modern Atlanta formed two years ago, according to co-founder Elayne DeLeo, “to elevate great design and make Atlanta a destination for great architects and artists.” In organizing the event, the initiative collaborated with some of the most influential names in Atlanta’s design community — including SCAD. “Not only are we about great design, we’re also about great up-and-coming designers. SCAD provides a great opportunity for us — we’re thrilled that they are on board,” said DeLeo.
The fashion show came within weeks of the recent Scholarship Gala, where select fashion students were chosen to show their eco-chic designs. The seven student designs shown at the Gala were the ones featured in the fashion show. The opportunity was, according to Tenley Gilstrap, “one more way for the students to get more exposure after all their hard work for the Gala.”
According to Gilstrap, students used materials such as hemp linen, amity peace silk and vegetable dye. The students’ designs were inspired by everything from ocean waves, spring grass and moss to old-style Hollywood glamour. SCAD students modeled the designs on the exposed-brick runway. Erin Reese, a graduate fashion student, was one of the student models selected by the fashion department for the show. “I always enjoy coming to these kinds of events — it’s really a great opportunity to network and meet people,” said Reese after modeling the design of fashion student Nathaly Rodriguez.
Camille Wright, owner of Kaleidoscope Boutique, said that she was captivated by the designs. “I was completely impressed with the inventiveness and the attention to detail. Everything was so fresh.” Wright compared the student designs to those of well-known fashion designers. “As someone who looks at clothing every day and travels to New York for fashion shows on a constant basis, I can say that the inventiveness of the student designs rivaled that of the major fashion designers.”
Fourth-year fashion student Thomas Gaddis was one of the students who showed his design. Gaddis said that it was exciting not only to be featured in such an exclusive show — it was also the first time he had ever seen his design on a runway. “It was such a fabulous feeling,” said Gaddis after watching his creation based on an illustration class project “based on circles.” The end result, a flowing organic evening dress, was juried along with many other student designs and chosen for the Gala fashion display.
Rodriguez said that she was grateful for the opportunity to show her design once again, especially after the time and effort she devoted to it. “It’s so great that, after all of our hard work and effort, we’re being recognized.”
Several SCAD students came out to watch the show, including third-year fashion student Joshua Holcombe. Holcombe said he was particularly impressed with what Modern Atlanta had done. “We’re finally getting some New York culture here, and broadening Atlanta’s horizons. I think it’s great that Modern Atlanta is stepping it up a notch.” As for the student designs, Holcombe said he was impressed with the eco-chic aspect of the designs. “It’s cool that they’re eco-friendly, because it must be a lot more difficult having to work within those parameters.”
Modern Atlanta co-founder Bernard McCoy was equally impressed: “You guys rocked!” he said of the particpants in the show. He went on to also say “All of the designs were incredible. The collaboration came together at the last minute but we are so glad that it did.”
After the SCAD designs came down the runway, new looks from Dries Van Noten and Ann Dumeulemeester were shown, and a representative from CARE International spoke about his experiences as a refugee. All proceeds of the show went towards CARE International’s work in both Darfur and recently devastated Myanmar. The fashion show was part of Modern Atlanta’s month-long event throughout May called “Design Is Human.”
For more information about Modern Atlanta, including upcoming events and contact information, visit their Web site at www.modern-atlanta.org. You can also learn more about the non-profit organization CARE International by visiting their Web site at www.care.org. COURTESY OF MICHAEL COOKE Bernard McCoy, co-founder of the Modern Atlanta design initiative, welcomes the audience before the SCAD portion of the show.
Photos by Michael Cooke