Models walked the runway in handmade wearable art created by the students of the College of Design and the College of Textiles Friday evening at the 14th annual Art2Wear in the Talley Student Union.
With this year’s theme, “Tell Us A Story,” designers found inspiration in everything from childhood memories to classic American novels to depict their collections.
Nine designers showcased their collections on the A2W runway.
Marina Pappas, a senior studying art + design and one of the 10 designers chosen to design for the show this year, opened the main show with her line Audacious Interlude, a colorful line inspired by Pappas’ love for the ‘80s.
“I love denim, and I knew I wanted to work with it in some way but also incorporate some of my graphic design interests into it,” Pappas said.
Pappas experimented with typography and created a line that efficiently combined denim and upbeat, cartoon-like prints. After she graduates in May, Pappas hopes to move to either New York City or the West Coast to pursue her interests in design.
Justin LeBlanc and Katherine Duiguid both served as faculty advisers for A2W this year. Both LeBlanc and Duiguid are assistant professors of art + design in the College of Design. It is LeBlanc’s third year working for show.
“This [event] is very special for me because I did Art2Wear when I was a senior in 2008,” LeBlanc said.
Each year the collections in A2W have shown great variation with new designers and changing styles.
“You can’t really compare each year because they all wear different things,” LeBlanc said. “You don’t know what to expect for the upcoming year because each designer is going to be new.”
Behind the scenes was an entire team of members. Casper served as one of the co-directors this year alongside Bianca Harris, a senior studying design studies. When asked about how much work went into the show, Casper said it was essentially like planning 10 weddings.
“It’s the epitome of a collaboration,” Casper said. “Nothing would be possible without every single individual that is involved.”
Models in the show were friends of designers, professors’ children or locals who responded to the open runway audition.
Erin Roberts, a senior studying textile design technology management, was a friend of designer Bethany Faulkner, a junior studying graphic design. She wore Faulkner’s line on the runway and walked with a slow strut to a remix of Lorde’s “Tennis Court.” Her modeling emphasized the drama portrayed by Faulkner’s designs.
Faulkner’s collection Athenaeum depicted the visual journey of reading a book. Her designs included pieces of leather and what looked like oversized book pages and gold letters shaped into gowns for the models.
Georgia Hobbs, a senior studying design studies, created a line called Ethereal Mutation, inspired by the change and uncertainty of dreams. Each of her models walked out onto the runway in one outfit, but suddenly transformed into an entirely new ensemble before the audience’s eyes.
Morgan Cox, a senior studying art + design, designed a children’s line called Bloom. As soon as her child models stepped onto the runway, dressed in colorful floral prints, the crowd erupted in an array of oohs and ahhs. She captured the audience’s hearts with her use of watering pails and dreamlike pinwheels as props, as Priscilla Ahn’s “Dream” played in the background.
Courtney Randall, another model for Faulkner’s collection, replied to the open modeling call. Randall is a musician from Raleigh, and wore the finale gown for Faulkner’s line. Her gown included a huge black hoop skirt, with giant gold letters on the top.
During dress rehearsal, Randall could not get up the stage stairs because of the hoop skirt. When she tried to step onto a few blocks to get on the stage her dress got caught and almost tore, the blocks collapsed, and she fell off stage. Luckily, there were several people around who ran over to catch her. After that ordeal, the crew decided to put her gown on the stage, and she just got dressed there.
“Thank God that didn’t happen tonight,” Randall said. “I’m glad I knew what I had to do. Now I’m known as the girl that fell off the stairs.”
Other lines featured in the show were Lisa Hoang’s “Artificial Thought,” Jamie Morrison’s “Midas Touch,” Rachel Bridge’s “Sunnydell,” Emma Ptak’s “Icarus Unbound,” and Sara Clark’s “Dividing Line.”
About 50 student designers applied last semester to be featured in the show, and 10 student fashion designers were chosen. In order to apply, students were required to design and develop their entire collection and finish two complete looks. Those looks were then presented to three anonymous jurors with various backgrounds in fashion and design and who have a connection to A2W.
