Students in the Fashion Design & Merchandising program at the Career & Technical Institute (CTI) strutted their stuff on the runway during the second annual Fashion Expo on April 30 where representatives from real fashion firms judged their designs.
Kayla Arroya, Kailyn Bennett, Lisa Gargiulo, Sienna Hayes, Omari James and Makhi Smith each presented two designs, while Jaiden Habersham provided three that were modeled by fellow students and the aspiring designers themselves.
CTI work-based learning coordinator Sharon Myers kicked off the expo by touting the outfits’ sustainability, as they were made from recycled materials, and answered the question “What is fashion?”
“It’s a form of expression, a reflection of cultural and social values,” Myers said. “The designers will be highlighting the creativity and innovation involved in repurposing materials to create stylish and unique fashion pieces.”
The judges declared Bennett and Habersham as having the best designs. As a result, the two students earned the chance to participate in a summer internship program where professionals from Canvas and Clothier and Nolita Boutique, BOCES’ industry partners, will mentor them.
Fashion Design & Merchandising instructor Sebastian Yeung sang the praises of his students, who worked hard to make magic happen.
“Your vision, your talent, your passion, your effort have made this show truly spectacular,” Yeung said. “I couldn’t be more proud of all of you.”
Myers agreed and offered to write recommendations for the student designers as they pursue their future endeavors.
“Every day that you aspire to do something better than you did the day before, that’s how you get proficient in the trade,” Myers said.
After the show, families, BOCES staff and visitors viewed the student designers’ sketchbooks and other outfits and spoke with them, including Arroya. She noted that while preparing for the show and modeling her own clothes was challenging, everything came together beautifully.
“I’m a little bit of an introvert, but I really like it because it makes me proud of what I made and to see the people’s reactions,” Arroya said. “We all got the hang of it and walked well.”
Arroya, who always had a knack for drawing and styling, enjoyed taking Yeung’s class because she made valuable connections and built resilience.
“You have to just keep on going, whether it’s your way or not,” Arroya said. “It opens your eyes and leads you down a path that you want to go.”
The event was a true group effort where CTI students from different programs worked together. Security & Law students opened doors for guests, Culinary Arts students provided exquisite snacks and Cosmetology students assisted with the models’ hair and makeup. Additionally, TV & Film Production students produced videos of the designers explaining their processes and Graphic Arts and Design students produced flyers for the show.
