The third annual College of Textiles Cotton Couture fashion show showcased various students’ creativity and point of view in fashion.
As students from the Apex Saxophone Quartet welcomed in guests, the seats of RBC Center’s Fletcher Opera Theater filled up with excited audience members. Included amongst the crowd was a large group of design students, who sat together in the back waiting to see their designs walk across the stage.
Cotton Couture, a fashion show in its third year, offers students a forum to display their designs for audiences. While participating students are free to design pieces of any style, their only restraint is the material, which must be at least 60 percent cotton.
Among the group of fashion and textile students seated together in the back of the theater was beginning designer Samantha Burdett . A sophomore in the University’s new fashion textiles design program, she was excited to participate in a fashion show with a unique twist.
“I think I learned a lot from this. I felt it a little bit challenging because I’m not used to looking at the cotton percentage of fabric and having to manipulate the fabric to get the desired color and texture I want, but it was really fun,” Burdett said.
The show organized itself by level of designer, beginning with undergraduate beginners and moving upwards through intermediate designers to advanced designers, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Among the many designers present was a group of special guests from the Universidad del Istmo , Guatemala. In addition, the show displayed a group of local celebrity models in special collections. This section of the show featured designs made specifically for their models, which ranged from N.C . State Women’s Basketball Coach, Kellie Harper, to the Dean of the College of Textiles, Blanton Godfrey.
Alison Duncan, senior in fashion and textile management, was one of the more advanced students who chose to design a collection of four pieces.
“I decided to do the show because I wanted the opportunity to design a collection and show something that I had my own inspiration for,” Duncan said. “I’m doing a collection of four pieces inspired by Greek goddesses using white and gold fabrics.”
Duncan added that her designs seek to fulfill the needs of the everyday woman, with versatile pieces. Duncan hopes her designs can be worn easily and several times.
While the event’s quirky emcees and upbeat music created a playful and exciting mood, the event took a short recess to allow the InterAct Foundation to take the stage.
InterAct , an organization dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, was the grateful recipient of Cotton Couture’s silent auction proceeds, according to marketing and communication specialist Damita Chambers.
“Whereas two years ago we had about seven families come in for help each day, now we’re up to around 23 families per day, so any efforts of the community to raise awareness and funds really helps us provide the quality care we seek to give,” Chambers said.
The four-hour show displayed designs from over 50 students, and represented a year’s worth of work and coordination.
