Fashion

Blushing Brides

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On Friday March 28th, the GCC fashion students hosted an opportune visit from the Genesee County YWCA Executive Director Jeanne Walton. Walton joined a group of seven of these students in a photoshoot for the Batavia Daily promoting an upcoming fashion Show at the YWCA. This fashion show will serve as a preview for GCC’s own 33rd annual fashion show entitled, Ethereal. The girls posed in beautiful wedding gowns that were generously donated to GCC for the Ethereal fashion show by M.A. Carr bridal.

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The final look of the gowns and other clothing collections created by the Fashion Design students at Genesee Community College will be revealed at GCC’s Ethereal fashion show which will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2014.

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-Ami Cornell

“Ambiance” features unique bridalwear

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One of the most anticipated scenes of the fashion show—the bridal scene—will be featuring some breathtaking designs this year, with custom touches and alterations!  Sophomore Kelly Weatherby and freshmen Lekha Anderson will be partnering to coordinate “Ambience,” the title given to the bridal scene for Ethereal.  The pair hoped to touch upon the heavenly side of the theme Ethereal, while also revealing the mysterious and seductive side.  According to Kelly, “We wanted the romantic, traditional wedding styles, but also want to incorporate the darker, more dramatic side that people aren’t used to seeing in bridal”

Original sketch of Angelique’s design

M.A. Carr Bridal was generous enough to donate gowns for the show.  While some gowns will be used as-is, others will be altered.  Angelique Porey, a freshmen fashion student, has created one of the designs to be used for a gown.  Her vision involves shortening the dress and giving it a waterfall hemline.  Accent colors and ribbon details will also be added to give the gown a unique look, and it might even be dyed. Angelique wanted to “Give the dress a little bit of an edge while still having a feminine touch.” This gown is sure to be a refreshing and exciting look, far from the traditional wedding gowns that we have grown accustomed to–be sure to come and see it at Ethereal on April 26th!

Anybody interested in redesigning a gown that would fit into “Ambiance” can share their ideas and sketches with Kelly at Kwether1@my.genesee.edu, and could be featured in the fashion show!

We’ve Got Mail

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Last Friday, the fashion students here at GCC got the first glimpse of Buffalo David Bitton’s spring 2014 line. We actually received an entire box filled with men’s and women’s clothing that will be featured in GCC’s 33rd annual fashion show, “Ethereal”. How is all of this possible? Last year, the 32nd fashion show, “Fashion Forward” featured Buffalo David Bitton clothing after visiting their showroom in NYC. We had such a great experience with the Buffalo David Bitton team; we just had to go back! Last October, the fashion students took another trip to the city and met with Buffalo David’s Public Relations Director – Diane Alexander. We had another fantastic meeting with her; and again have the opportunity to showcase their clothing line in our show.

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As the scene coordinators of the Buffalo David Bitton scene pulled out each garment one by one, the class’s excitement intensified. By the time Shelby and Ashley – the scene coordinators – got to the bottom of the box, everyone had their favorite garment. From men’s and women’s jeans to dresses and jackets, there was something for everyone! Buffalo David sent around $2,300 worth of garments for the show, and we couldn’t be more excited.

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Along with the amazing clothing from the city, we’ll also have bridal dresses donated from M.A. Carr Bridal. Over $17,000 worth of bridal dresses came from the bridal salon, located in Orchard Park, NY. As soon as it was announced that the dresses had arrived, the fashion students rushed to the storage room to explore the gowns. As the fashion design students looked over the dresses, you could see the ideas flowing on how to re-purpose the dresses and create ethereal looks. Since M.A. Carr Bridal generously donated the wedding gowns, the design students have the opportunity to choose any dress of their choice to redesign, however they choose. Along with the Buffalo David Bitton clothing, M. A. Carr Bridal donated wedding gowns to the fashion show last year as well.

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Without the considerate donation from Mary Anne at M.A. Carr Bridal, and the use of the clothing from Buffalo David Bitton, our show wouldn’t be possible. From the amazing relationships built with these and other companies, our annual fashion show has surpassed others in the area, making it the largest fashion show in Western New York.

To see more of these and other scenes, be sure to attend Ethereal on April 26th at 3pm and 7pm. You won’t want to miss this!

Donation aids Creation

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This blog post contributed by Amber Coan, Fashion Design student

GCC’s Fashion Design students are thrilled about a recent donation of two brand new dress forms from PGM Incorporated representative, Andrea Quintana! If you walk into the sewing room, you’ll find about eleven handmade dress forms in a wide variety of sizes from 2 through 24. The forms are a huge part of our design and draping class, one of the most significant classes for fashion design majors. While some of us strive to master the creation of plus-size garments, there are many, myself included, who would rather work with smaller sizes; to fit this demand, we were absolutely in need of more narrow-bodied mannequins–I speak for all of the design majors when I say that we are very thankful for Andrea and PGM’s donation!

Outside of class, many students use the PGM dress forms for our own personal projects for clients, to build our portfolio, and to aid in creating garments for GCC’s annual fashion show–which is now the largest in Western New York!

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PGM dress form with student draping

I, personally, am using one of the forms to fit an evening gown of my own design for next year’s fashion show. The dress will consist of a black leotard base and a very long flowing skirt. My inspiration for my scene proposal next year is fierce, dark, and strong–contrasting this year’s “Ethereal” theme. Bringing my inspiration to life has to start somewhere, and that somewhere is the blank canvases that Andrea Quintana and PGM so generously donated to us.

I would highly recommend that design majors–or anyone interested in pursuing fashion design–check out the wide range of beautiful, top-of-the-line dress forms (including customizable and colored!!!) at PGM’s website, http://www.pgmdressform.com.

Once again, I’d like to publicly thank Andrea and PGM for their contribution to our fashion program!!

LIM Takes GCC

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This past Monday, GCC was able to receive a visit from a representative of one of the most distinguished fashion schools in New York and the world. Anthony M. Urmey, Assistant Director of Admissions and Transfer Services at LIM, spoke to the Fashion Business students of GCC about all that LIM has to offer. LIM is situated amongst the skyscrapers of NYC; with its academic buildings located in Midtown East, and dorm buildings a 15-minute metro ride away on 1760 3rd Ave, LIM is the best choice of school for fashion students who are looking to break-in to the industry. LIM offers a variety of degrees, including (but not limited to): BBA BPS in Fashion Merchandising, BBA in Marketing, BBA in Management, and BBA in Visual Merchandising. LIM is one of a few fashion schools that offers a bachelor’s degree in visual merchandising. During his presentation, Anthony Urmey made a point of mentioning that when looking at schools for transfer that it is important to be aware of the accreditation of the school you are looking to transfer to. LIM for example is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Anthony also placed great emphasis on finding the transfer school that fits you best through the use of exploring the credentials of the school’s faculty. Professors tend to be most effective in teaching subject matter when they have experience in/worked in the field of concern. Many of LIM’s professors work full-time in the fashion industry while teaching, making them readily available to provide students with insight on topics of concern and professional connections.

Anthony M. Urmey of LIM speaking to fashion students

Anthony M. Urmey of LIM speaking to fashion students

Part of what sets LIM apart from other fashion schools based out of NYC is its unique internship requirements. All students at LIM are required to have completed three internships (approximately 150 hours). The first internship the students are required to participate in is in the area of retail. The second internship is within corporate/management and can be picked based upon the specific career interests/goals of the student. The third internship that students must complete is the senior co-op, which involves intensive hands-on work and serves as a career transition for students. Anthony said this of LIM’s internship programs: “the more proactive students are going to get the better spots”, landing an internship in NYC is very competitive, therefore students who are looking to apply to LIM should have a strong passion for the fashion industry and be willing to work hard. Anthony advised the fashion students at GCC to also be aware of the employment rates of graduates from schools that you are looking to transfer to. The whole concept of university-based education relies on the hope of being employable after receiving your degree, by looking at these stats you become informed of your chances of earning a professional position after you have received your degree. In 2011, 97% of LIM graduates seeking positions were employed within nine months of graduation. Tuition at LIM is $24,225; though it may come at a high cost, the education earned from LIM is a great investment; this is proved through the very low loan default rate of 2 ½ % and high employment rates of LIM graduates. If the price tag of LIM is the only thing stopping you from sending in your application for transfer then its time to reconsider. GCC students have an advantage when applying to LIM; everyone who graduates from GCC will receive $1,000 tacked onto their financial awards from LIM. GCC and LIM also have an articulation agreement as of 2011, enabling GCC students to enter LIM as a junior in their program of choice. So get your applications in right away! If you’re planning on transferring Anthony recommends that students at GCC should send in applications as early as possible. Don’t forget to submit your college transcripts, high school transcripts, a well-written essay, two letters of recommendation, and your resume! Good luck to all those who are currently applying to LIM, and for all those who follow in their footsteps.

-Ami Cornell

Revival

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Imagine having an image of a high fashion garment in your mind, and seeing that same creation walking down the runway in Western New York’s largest fashion show. With Genesee Community College’s fashion programs, this dream is my reality. Since this is my sophomore year in the fashion design program, I have the ability to create a complete look, from sketchpad to runway.

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This year, the 33rd Annual Fashion Show is entitled “Ethereal”; meaning too perfect to be in this world. Think heavenly gates meets the secret garden. For my scene, I wanted to keep with the theme of a mysterious garden, but also keep it ready-to-wear. With the help of beautiful models, I will be taking used clothes from Goodwill, Salvation Army, and even my own closet and giving them a new life.With my own twist added to the torn apart garments, I will be creating my own Spring line for my scene: Revival.

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The scene will begin with ready-to-wear. More traditional clothes but with a combination of styles and patterns. Along with conventional materials, there will also be some uncommon additions to the clothing. As each model enters and exits the runway, the complete look will intensify – becoming more divine.

Working up to the final models, the overall scene will be fully ethereal. Hair and makeup will reflect the style and fabric of the garments to create brand new look.

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Want to experience these one-of-a-kind fashions? Come toGenesee Community College, Saturday April, 26th 2014 at 3pm or 7pm. Whether you’re a high school student, grandparent, freshman, or senior, male or female, there is something for everyone. Remember, this is one day only. Get ready for Ethereal.

Show and Tell

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Recently, the fashion students have begun a new and exciting class: Display and Visual Merchandising. Only a few classes into the course and the students have already created one of four displays. There are four teams (each with four or five members) who contribute their ideas and creativity to the display. The great thing about this class is the freedom that Professor Ehrart gives all of us. The only direction we are given is which display we will be using; whether it’s a full window display, shadow box, display case, or rolling rack. It’s up to us to use any and all ideas to create a theme and send a message to our viewer about the merchandise or business. Creating an interesting display that makes your eye wander around the entire space, while keeping with a theme and having a clear focal point was key in this task. Shadow Box DisplayFull Window DisplayRolling RackDisplay Case

What do you think?

As a class, we walked to all displays and evaluated them on focal points, theme, message and use of props. Each team had the opportunity to show their display and tell the viewers their inspiration for it. We determined what we liked and some changes we would make to each display. Overall, the class did a great job with the first displays of the course. We agreed that this was one of the most fun and challenging classes in the program. What other class gives you the freedom to create any display your creativity allows?

Product of Opporunity

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Product of Opportunity

By Vincent J. Coons

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            Wednesday, November 6, 2013 BUS 201 had a special guest speaker, Ryan Boland. Mr. Boland studied at Malone University where he obtained a MBA(Masters of Business Administration) degree, although a lot of his success he credits to being a product of opportunity. Mr. Boland is currently the Director of AVI foods at GCC. AVI foods ranks #8 in relation to the top food service management companies in the United States of America. Mr. Boland has been the director here at GCC for about six months. In fact you just may have run into him at the GCC cafeteria.

            Mr. Boland spoke about the different personalities that people have. The four distinct personalities are, Dominant; Influential, Steady, and Conscientious (the personality in which I consider myself); which form the acronym DISC. In Professional Sales, Mr. Dudkowski has taught us that communication is the main ingredient to success. Mr. Boland stressed upon that idea and more so with the ideas of how to communicate with distinct personalities of salespeople or customers depending on their specific personality.

            For example Mr. Boland stated that a person with a Dominant personality is someone who wants to take authority, so telling a person with a dominant personality what to do, isn’t always the greatest of ideas. Mr. Boland said the more effective way to talk business with a dominant personality is to get to the point, don’t ramble, or engage in small talk, keep it business oriented if you are conducting business with this person. Mr. Boland also gave an example of how to communicate with a conscientious person. Conscientious people like dominant ones, want to get to the point, they want the information straight forward, and will analyze the information and devise a plan accordingly, where as the dominant person would respond with an answer quickly and decisively. Mr. Boland utilizes the skills of analyzing people’s personalities, and communicating with them accordingly on a daily basis, whether it be with a student, an employee, or potential business partner selling products to him.

            In Professional Sales, we’ve had a few guest speakers, ranging from salespeople, to marketing director, but this is the first time the class has gotten a glimpse into the side of the customer (from the side of business to business anyway). Mr. Boland deals with various companies including but not limited to; PepsiCo, Starbucks, and Tim Horton’s. Mr. Boland stated that these companies often come in and try to sell new products currently being promoted. It is his job to find out which promotional items can actually make him money or not. So conducting research on what the students at GCC really enjoy is an important element to his job. For those wondering (which for some, you may not need to wonder) the top selling item AVI foods sells at GCC are their chicken tenders (mmmmm chicken tenders *drool*).

            Mr. Boland was a very informative, and kind guest speaker, whom really showed insight on how things are handled on the business side of our very own cafeteria. Mr. Boland reiterated many lessons already taught by Mr. Dudkowski, and taught some of his own. I appreciate Mr. Boland for his sacrifice of time to speak with the class and for the free goodies he brought with him to make our morning just a little more delightful, and thank him tremendously on behalf of myself and the whole class.

LIFE IN THE FASH LANE

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What if your professor gave you a task that you originally thought would be as easy as walking in your seven inch heels every day to class?  A few months ago Professor Dudkowski was sharing the necessity of hiring a guest speaker for our annual fashion seminar that takes place in the early part of the fall. The opportunity seemed very intriguing so I went ahead and took on the role of becoming project manager. My initial thoughts were that I just had to find a celebrity guest that was influential and well known in the fashion industry but yet still remained within our budget. This task was not as easy as I first anticipated it to be! After days of research, I still could not find a speaker who was right for the event. I wanted an individual who was empowering and someone that I admired. This was such a tough thing for me to do, and I will admit that the task did become a little intimidating,

     One night as I was researching and I almost gave up because I was not receiving any responses from the celebrities that I previously contacted and I began to lose all hope. I decided to call it a night, in hopes that in the morning I would have the perfect celebrity in mind.  When I woke up…I had it!  As soon as Anya Ayoung-Chee, winner of Project Runway Season 9 came to my mind, I knew I had to close the deal and get her to speak at the fashion seminar.

     I knew that Anya would be a great candidate for the event. She’s young, talented, and a very unique individual.  Anya was often looked upon as the underdog on Project Runway because she did not know how to sew, but taught herself as each project progressed. She’s such an inspiration and an inventive achiever! When I finally received the approval from her representative, I was beyond excited to finally announce that she would be speaking to us.

      Being the project manager, I had many responsibilities to deal with; booking the client was just the beginning. For the next month I would be working closely with the marketing executives at the school and college officials to make sure that the event was well promoted, and that we represented the affair to the highest of our capabilities. I created unique flyers presenting our guest speaker and the date in which the event would be held on. I had to create a detailed itinerary for the event to make sure that entirety of the day ran effortlessly.  I also had to converse with Anya’s representative on a daily basis regarding the specs of the event to make sure that every detail was addressed.

       This event began to consume my life, and I truly felt like I was living out my dream job! Colleagues began questioning me asking where I have been and why I would take so long to get back to them. I would simply reply and say that I was busy getting ready for my big event, and could not afford any interruptions.

      Being a design student and trying to plan a big event is a lot of work. Taking 21 credit hours, working on campus, designing and consulting with my clients, and still try to balance my social life takes such an extensive amount of effort and energy, but I love every minute of it. Professor Earhart encourages students to eat healthy because she knows how much vitality goes into our busy lifestyles.

     The morning of Wednesday October 23rd, I received the notification that Anya was on her way! I called my assistant Arianna and from then on it was show time. I stuck to the proceedings that were planned for Anya such as exclusive meetings, a catered lunch with our Vice President, Dean of Students, Director of the Fashion program, and fashion professors Mr. Dudkowski and Mrs. Earheart. I also made sure she was at the media moment in the Roz Steiner Art Gallery that was conducted by Donna Rae Sutherland, where interviews were set up with the Daily News, Wingin’ It Buffalo, and the Batavian, and also scheduled photo ops with President Sunser.

     What I originally thought would be a simple assignment turned into me producing a remarkable event here at Genesee Community College. There were countless positive reviews about the event and how much everyone enjoyed hearing from Anya. I could not have done it without the encouragement of my professors to take  this event on with  full confidence. I am so thankful for the opportunity that was given to me and I could not have wished for a better experience!

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My name is Candace Cooper, and this is what my life is like in the FASH lane.

Project Runway Winner Visits Genesee Community College

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“I knew I wanted something else, something bigger,” explained Project Runway season nine winner Anya Ayoung Chee as she spoke with fashion students on campus Wednesday afternoon. Offering advice and sharing her journey in the fashion industry, Anya Ayoung Chee chose a more candid and relaxed approach to her presentation. While engaging students in conversation, Anya outlined her rise to fame from unknown to internationally acclaimed designer through the hit television program Project Runway.

Photo Credit: Howard Owens Used with permission from

Photo Credit: Howard Owens
Used with permission from The Batavian.

Growing up in Trinidad, Anya Ayoung Chee had limited career options and felt as though she was expected to pursue a traditional career by becoming a doctor or a lawyer. It wasn’t until Anya traveled to Tokyo, Japan with her family at the age of fifteen that she realized her true passion – design. Anya recounted how mesmerized she was by the technology and innovative designs illuminating the streets of Tokyo. It was this experience that influenced her in choosing to study graphic design at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. Anya eventually left Parsons during her junior year and studied at the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, England. Upon graduating, Anya worked a string of jobs ranging from film production studio assistant to luxury perfume packaging designer, until her life was suddenly rocked by tragedy. In 2007, Anya’s younger brother Pilar died in a tragic car accident at the age of eighteen. Following this tragedy, Anya embarked on a “soul searching” journey that eventually led her to the Miss Universe Pageant in 2008 where she represented her home country as Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe. Representing Trinidad and Tobago provided a platform for Anya to begin designing clothing and promoting her own designs. In 2011, Anya Ayoung Chee auditioned for the ninth season of Project Runway and was chosen as a contestant in the final round of casting. Anya recounted the weeks leading up to Project Runway, describing her motivation to be a part of something bigger than herself and the encouragement she felt as “almost divine.” Anya did, however, suffer a lapse of faith when she received a call from Project Runway producers and initially turned down their offer for casting in season nine, fearing she would embarrass herself and her family and friends. Eventually Anya did accept the offer from producers and the rest is history.

Anya Ayoung Chee with fashion students.

Anya Ayoung Chee with fashion students and professors Mr. Dudkowski and Ms. Ehrhart.

Today, Anya Ayoung Chee is working on her eponymous line in addition to her street wear line PILAR, created in memorial of her brother. Anya’s Spring/Summer 2014 line showed at fashion weeks in South Africa, New York, and London. Anya also recently launched “The Canyaval Shop” showcasing her designs inspired by Carnival which feature strong Caribbean influences. Anya Ayoung Chee is still very involved with The Tallman Foundation, a charity that her family founded in memory of her late brother, Pilar.

Anya Ayoung Chee credits much of her success to her “light-hearted approach” to the industry and her mentor who taught her everything she knows about the technical side of design. Anya offered the same advice to fashion students during her presentation: find a mentor to foster and develop skills and take calculated risks. Anya enforced the ideals of self-respect, positivity, determination, and tenacity in setting out to achieve greatness. When asked to impart her best piece of advice for young designers and professionals trying to break into the industry, Anya left students with the following words of encouragement:  “Celebrate yourself and risk being yourself fully. It’s never worth not knowing.”

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Anya Ayoung Chee signs autographs for fashion students following her presentation at Genesee Community College on Wednesday.

Check out some of Anya Ayoung Chee’s designs here!