Inspiration can come from large things, small things, insignificant details or haunting memories. For the seniors in the Threads Senior Fashion Show, Thursday will be their last chance at the University to bring inspiration to the runway in the form of self-designed, hand-made garments. It’s the chance for these students to pull together everything they have learned at the College of Textiles to craft something unique.

Alli Giorgi, a senior in textile and apparel management, said the senior show is a representation of every individual designer’s style.

“A lot of people have been doing their own digital printing on fabrics, some people have been doing finishing on their fabrics like water-repellant stuff and things like that — it’s up to all of us,” Giorgi said. “We had to design the entire show ourselves — figuring out reception and lighting and stage. It’s been really interesting because a lot of it we just went into it not knowing anything and then we have to find our own sponsors and things like that, so we’ve gotten a lot of experience with setting up a fashion show.”

Wing Ka Leung, a senior in fashion and textile management, said the show it to tell people the seniors are ready to go into the industry and work.

“We’re using our creativity and the technology the school gives us and the skills to create a line that has six garments in each collection. We pick our own themes and sketch our own garments. We construct them ourselves by making patterns, draping and whatever else.”

Leung said it was a challenge for everyone and they’re trying their best to accomplish everything by deadline.

“We work the whole semester. The last month is the most intensive one,” Leung said.

Giorgi said none of the designers are truly finished yet.

“Since there is a week left, it’s getting really hectic and we’re all working really hard,” Giorgi said. “Mostly, everybody has two or three looks left to do and then we have to do finishing touches –making sure all our seams are finished, there’s no threads hanging and stylizing is also a big thing – figuring out hair and makeup, what shoes and what jewelry to wear.”

The College of Textiles pushed the students to use technology offered by the University and sponsors to assist in the creation of their designs.

“There was a big stress on using our college technology, like using body scanning to get measurements, using Gerber to do cutting patterns, and digital printing,” Giorgi said.

Leung said there are a lot of opportunities for designers to express their creativity.

“My theme is Roman and Grecian-inspired. There are lots of draping, wraps and fastening. I tried to create a more modern, ready-to-wear look so in daily life it’s wearable,” Leung said. “It’s not couture because I like people to wear my stuff.”

Giorgi said her theme was vintage lingerie-inspired.

“I made a lot of my own hand-knit accessories. It’s retro-y, but more modern. I chose a lot of sheers and a lot of lace cut-outs and things like that, but nothing exposed. I try to keep everything classy for our sponsors,” Giorgi said.

Brawleigh-Alexander Graham, a senior in fashion and textile management, said his theme is nighttime Persian chic.

“There’s a lot of 18th century inspiration, from Rococo and gothic architecture; a lot of black; a lot of ruffles giving it the whole ethereal feel; a lot of embellishments.”

Graham said his other inspiration was antique chandeliers, which came from his time spent in France.

“I lived in Paris for two months two summers ago and I took a lot of photographs of things like [chandeliers]. I wanted to represent that by a lot of embellishments like beading, gold chains, sequins and a lot of reflective fabrics, metallics,” Graham said. “I like things that are ominous, dark, so I try to mix it in with a lot of femininity because I want things to be elegant and feminine, but also constructed and masculine.”

Sydney Forbes, a senior in textile and apparel management, was inspired by Ms. Scarlett from the board game Clue.

“She was dangerous but also really elegant and pretty, so I wanted to incorporate that in my line, which consists of cocktail dresses and evening gloves,” Forbes said.

Natalie Drennon, a senior in fashion and textile management, was inspired by the military trends going on in today’s fashion world.

“I wanted to bring my own style to it by mixing masculine and feminine aspects together. I did a lot of Grecian style draping along with structured garments and silhouettes,” Drennon said. “I have a lot of work to do. I’ve been doing a lot of hand-sewing, a lot of hand-beading, dip-dying – a lot of stuff that’s taking a lot of time – but it’s coming along. Very slowly, but it’s coming.”

Drennon said she has pulled eight all-nighters already working on completing her pieces in time for the show.

“My pieces are taking forever. It’s a lot of coming in after-hours, after I get out of studio and working throughout the night,” Drennon said.

Forbes said she’s in the home stretch for completing all of her garments.

“I have one more dress to make – I have the prototypes ready and I’ve tried it on with the model. I have some things to fix but other than that I’m in the home stretch,” Forbes said.

Graham said all of his garments are structurally finished and he is working on the finish touches.

“What I have to do now is a lot of hemming of the gowns, hand-beading, just embellishing everything and trimming and making sure everything is fitted really well,” Graham said.

The Threads Senior Fashion Show will take place Thursday at the College of Textiles, beginning at 7 p.m.