VCU Fashion News + Updates

International Fashion Institute Fur Show launches work of VCU Student as only US Representative in Beijing.

The International Fashion Institute Fur Show sponsored by Saga Furs and Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, October 17th, 2009, spotlighted creations by 12 cutting-edge student designers from nine of the world's leading fashion institutes including Nedim Sudic, Senior Fashion Design major at Virginia Commonwealth University. The show was held in part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology

As part of the gala 50th anniversary celebration of BIFT, Saga Furs worked with design students to bring together a week of social and professional networking that culminated in the celebratory fashion show. Each student had to submit: two full garments in fur; two garments trimmed with fur; and, two fur bags. The designers used Saga Fursâ Fox, Finn raccoon and Mink to make their creations. Saga Furs provided all furs and helped the schools find furriers to make the actual pieces.

The 12 students hailed from institutions in nine countries: China, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, UK and US. They brought with them a broad mix of styles, ethnic seasoning and cultural influences.

The overall effect was a mini-world-forum of fashion created by young talent presented at an ideal venue. The 12 students began in May to design the six pieces submitted for the show. Themes for each collection were developed by the individual fashion institutions and inspired by local or national values. Students also needed to submit theme texts, music recommendations for the runway presentation of the collection. All elements of the show were considered--models, settings, lighting, music, mood—to produce a cross-cultural communication between all the parties involved.

http://www.sagafurs.com/catwalk_gallery.html?g2_itemId=31347

 

 

The 2009 Annual Juried Fashion Show “MUSE”

April 6, 2009

The Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) will host their 2009 Annual Juried Fashion show, titled MUSE, on Friday May 1, 2009. It will feature approximately 150 original garments designed by the fashion design students and chosen by a panel of fashion professionals.

The show will be held on VCU’s campus in the Student Commons, Ballrooms A & B.

Ticket sales start on April 1, 2009 with the following cost structure:
Preferred Seating $35
General Admissions $25
Students $20
Fashion Students $5 with ID

Tickets can be purchased through the Fashion office, Room 432 Pollak Building, 325 N. Harrison Street or by calling (804)828-1699.

MUSE will consist of 16 segments of student designed garments, ranging from evening wear to swimwear. Additionally, the show will feature a segment of street wear, named Street Cycle, inspired by the up and coming urban dance and vintage mix trends. All of the designer collections have been inspired by international museums including Richmond’s Children Museum and Valentine Museum, as well as Houston’s Geometric Museum and New York City’s Sports Museum.

Within the show, many garments were designed with a focus on sustainable fabrics and recycled apparel. "Everyone looks forward to this show," said Karen Videtic, Chairwoman of the Fashion Department. "These designs are one-of-a-kind couture and only the best garments get in the show.”

Contact Information:
Karen Videtic, Chair 804-828-5431
Chair, VCU Fashion Design and Merchandising





Two VCU Design Students are Finalists for the IFTF International Fur Design Competition

February 24, 2009


Fur Design Photo Fur Design Photo

Ra Jang a senior fashion design student, and Shannon Kesler, a junior fashion design student were both selected as two of the three North American finalists for the REMIX 2009 International Fur Trade Federation’s (IFTF) 2009 International Fur Design Competition. These students are among hundreds of design students from 21 countries who have participated in this annual competition since its inception in 2003.

Photos of the selected garments were submitted for the first round of international judging by a panel of designers, retailers, fashion editors, and celebrity judges in early January 2009.

Following the preliminaries, the actual garments will be presented in Milan, Italy in March, 2009 for a final runway showing. Ms. Ra Jang has been asked to attend the event in Milan from March 3rd through the 8th, 2009 with all of her expenses paid by IFTF.

For more information about the competition go to:
http://www.iftf.com/iftf_4_2.php

Contact Information:
Karen Videtic, Chair 804-828-5431
Chair, VCU Fashion Design and Merchandising





Las Vegas Field Trip to Men's Apparel Guild in California (MAGIC) Trade Show

February 17-20, 2009






Annual Juried Fashion Show @ 7pm

May 1, 2009





Korto Momolu, Project Runway Star,
to visit VCU Fashion Department

January 12, 2009


Korto MomluThe Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Virginia Commonwealth University will welcome Korto Momolu, finalist from season five of Bravo television’s Project Runway to the Monroe Park campus to discuss her experiences on the show and in the fashion industry. Open to the public and free, Ms. Momulu will speak on Thursday, January 29, 2009 beginning at 1pm at the Bowe Street Deck, Rm. 535, located at 609 Bowe Street, Richmond, VA 23284. Seating is limited.

Originally from Liberia, Korto studied fashion design in Canada, and then settled in her current home in Arkansas, just outside of Little Rock. Drawing from her African roots, Korto infuses tribal details into her classic designs. She is inspired by rich fabrics and textures and says her designs are intended for real, full-figured women. In her spare time, Korto works as a freelance fashion photographer, dances in an African dance troupe and does African hair braiding and makeup.

Ms. Momulu will be a professional critic for Ms. Linda Lee’s Design Studio being taught this semester.

http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/5

Contact Information:
Karen Videtic, 804-828-5431
Linda Lee, 804-828-1869





Two VCU Fashion Design students win top honors and scholarships at the 2008 Fashion Group International Foundation, Inc. Design Competition in New York City

January , 2009


Lisa Magee and Mary Rossetti, junior Fashion Design students at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising took high honors at the 2008 Fashion Group International Foundation, Inc. Design Competition in New York City. Lisa Magee was awarded honorable mention in the Menswear category, for which she received a scholarship in the amount of $750. Mary Rossetti was awarded 1st prize in the Evening Wear/Special Occasion category which included a scholarship in the amount of $2,000 and a three week internship at the prestigious bridal design house Kleinfeld’s.

The Fashion Group Foundation, Inc. held its 10th Annual New York Career Day entitled “Your Minds Eye View,” on Friday, November 21, 2008 at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. The day’s events included industry expert speakers, and seminars in addition to the design competition. The competing student designers from all over the United States, submitted portfolio pieces that were judged on the basis of originality, creativity, practicality, technical approach and the creative process which each student documented in a written essay. The competition winners were announced by keynote speaker/designer Tracy Reese.

Contact Information:
Karen Videtic, 804-828-5431
Chair, VCU Fashion Design & Merchandising





Designer Alexander McQueen Taps Intern Talent

October 13, 2008


mcqueen mcqueen click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge

Angie Bacskocky, senior Fashion Design student at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising, had no idea that the garments that she draped and created for her internship at Alexander McQueen would make it to the Paris runways this fall. Angie studied abroad through VCU’s study abroad program at Central St. Martins in London, Great Britain during the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters. She interned in McQueen’s design studio in London in the spring semester while taking classes and working.

Ms. Bacskocky’s internship was in the print and textile design studio for Mr. McQueen, and the majority of the interns were textile design students. Angie 3-dimensionally draped the patterned textile into a garment, and created the “leggings” as part of her assigned responsibilities. (see pictures) She worked as part of a team of interns each receiving projects working toward the completion of the Spring 2009 line.

Ms. Bacskocky also worked for a London tailor called “A Suit That Fits”, a revolutionary new company that custom tailors garments through the web.

Angie also completed another internship at Felder & Felder, up and coming, new designers in London presenting just their 3rd season. Both designers are graduates of Central St. Martins, and produce a line of women’s wear. Angie’s very first day at the design house, she was asked to correct a pattern. She was able to assess the problem and quickly fix it, receiving praise for the skills in patternmaking.

Angie feels she has received a great education through Fashion VCU, utilizing the creativity of the Central St. Martins program, and the skills, knowledge and competency to enter the fashion industry. She felt that her skills learned at VCU allowed her to take on design projects, while others were often relegated “to getting coffee and running errands.”


Contact information:
Karen M. Videtic, Chairperson
804-828-5431





Kids with Cancer ASK for Comfort

VCU Fashion Students Respond with exclusive new line of loungewear to meet their special needs!


ask ask ask ask

 

Thursday, September 25th at 7:00 PM fashion design students from the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Virginia Commonwealth University launched a new line of “port” friendly loungewear for patients receiving treatment at VCU Health Systems Pediatric Oncology Unit. The event included a fashion show presenting the styles and prints available to the young patients. All of the apparel was modeled by cancer patients served by ASK, the philanthropic arm of the Pediatric Oncology Unit at the medical campus at VCU or modeled by their siblings. ASK serves children with cancer between infancy and young adulthood and their families providing support, comfort and compassion.

 

The fabrics were designed in the fall semester of 2007 by Professor Kristen Caskey’s U4ia surface design class, and the most popular two designs were selected to be produced for the initial run of loungewear. Students informally asked questions of patients, parents, nurses and staff on the needs and wants of varying ages of these young cancer patients. From that information, the students in Professor Linda Lee’s design studio designed the actual garments in the spring of 2008. These garments are extremely soft, and open to accommodate ports for medication and chemotherapy without being totally removed. These will often replace the traditional gowns worn by young cancer patients when receiving treatment.

Over the summer, the two faculty worked to develop standardized patterns for each style and size, produce shorts runs of fabric, and with the help of alumnus, Kevin Blow, garments were custom-made for each of the models that appeared on Thursday evening’s launch party. This project was funded by a grant from Cotton, Inc.

The loungewear will be available to the public for purchase from both the VCU Fashion website and the ASK website within the next month. Initially, all garments will be custom-made with profits going directly to ASK.

Contact: Virginia Commonwealth University
Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising
Karen Videtic, Chairperson
Richmond, VA
(804) 828-169

Photographs couretesy of Jay Paul.





Kristin Caskey's Show

Sept 5 thru October 28


Associate Professor Kristin Caskey's exhibition Jumpsuit will consist of several on-going projects. Jumpsuit is a series of jumpsuits created for specific life tasks, one piece is titled Doing Things with Lulu, others are Animal Husbandry, Print Monkey and Doing Things with Mom. The show will also include three new hanging lamps one features a garland pattern in black and white, another the tree of life and a third is bird themed.

Location: Quirk Gallery, 311 W. Broad Street




Earth Pledge Foundation

Sept. 23


Leslie Hoffman, Executive Director of Earth Pledge Foundation, will discuss the organizations groundbreaking initiatives in sustainable fashion, green rooftops, sustainable agriculture and other endeavors. Ms. Hoffman is a pioneer in the fields of sustainable architecture and agriculture.  Since joining Earth Pledge in 1994, she has spearheaded the non-profit’s six core initiatives: Green Roofs, Farm to Table, Waste=Fuel, FutureFashion, The Guardian Trust and Limit 450.  Under Ms. Hoffman’s leadership, the organization has received accolades from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and numerous industry and trade publications.

Ms. Hoffman has traveled the globe speaking to naturalists, developers, legislators, chefs and numerous corporations about practical solutions to environmental challenges.  She will soon be presenting Earth Pledge’s Future Fashion event in New York City, which will enlist twenty-eight internationally recognized designers for the creation of a one of a kind collection that will incorporate organic fibers and textiles.

No ticket required. 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: VCU Student Commons Theater, 907 Floyd Avenue




VCU Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising Presents:
The 2008 Annual Juried Fashion Show "Digital Threads."

Friday May 2, 2008


The Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Virginia Commonwealth University will host their 2008 Annual Juried Fashion Show, titled Digital Threads, on Friday May 2, 2008. It will feature approximately 130 garments original garments design by the fashion design students and chosen by a jury of fashion professionals. The show will be held on VCU’s campus in the Student Commons, Ballroom A&B. Tickets will go on sale April 1, 2008; Preferred Seating $35, General Admissions $25, Students $20 and Fashion Students $5 with ID. Tickets can be purchased through the Fashion office, Room 432 Pollak Building, 325 N. Harrison Street or by calling 828-1699.

Digital Threads will consist of eleven segments of student designed garments, ranging from evening wear to denim and fabrications inspired from the Philippines. The show will also feature a segment of children’s loungewear inspired by children with cancer. In the Fall semester, the Computer Aided Design class created the fabrics for the loungewear, and in the Spring semester, the students designed garments that adapt for children and young adults going through chemotherapy treatment. These garments will actually go into production through the sponsorship of Cotton Incorporated and all profits will go directly to ASK, the philanthropic arm of the pediatric cancer unit at VCU Health System.

Cotton Incorporated is a major sponsor of the fashion show including underwriting the cost of the production, design student scholarships, student ticket costs and field trips to New York City and Cary, NC to visit their Cotton Library, Trend Forecasting and textile research centers.

Contact: Karen Videtic
(804) 828-5431
kmvidetic@vcu.edu




Trunk Show for Vivian Chan Shaw
“The Queen of Australian Knitwear”

Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:00 am to 7:00 pm


The Department of Fashion at Virginia commonwealth university Cordially invites you to a trunk show For Vivian Chan Shaw “The Queen of Australian Knitwear” Harpers BazaarFeaturing hand loomed knits from Australia that flatter the figure of both petite to full figured women. Collection includes soft tops, skirts, pants, floaty coasts and special occasion wear featured in the PowerHouse museum in Sydney, Australia

Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Monkeys, 306 Libbie Avenue, Richmond, VA

Special guest: daughter and co-designer Claudia Chan Shaw

A portion of the proceeds of sales will be donated to the “Love of Lindsay” fund to benefit VCU Fashion alumnae, Lindsay Ess.




Claudia Chan Shaw, Australian Knitwear Designer
Addresses VCU Fashion Students

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008 at 7:00 pm


Claudia Chan Shaw, internationally acclaimed designer of the Australian label Vivian Chan Shaw will discuss Australian fashion industry on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the Temple Building, 901 W. Main Street, Room 1164 on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus. The talk is open to all VCU students and the public.

Claudia Chan Shaw is designer, director and marketing manager for Vivian Chan Shaw, internationally acclaimed Australian fashion label specializing in hand loomed knitwear and handmade jewelry. Claudia shares the design direction of the label with her mother, Vivian Chan Shaw, who founded the company in 1972. Her many other roles include all aspects of sales and marketing for wholesale, retail and export divisions. The label has its flagship store in Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building and is sold around Australia and is exported to the USA, UK and New Zealand.

A design graduate of Sydney College of the Arts, Claudia is a past Regional Director of the Fashion Group International of Sydney, and currently acts as an advisor to the Fashion Group board and is the Chairperson for The Cutting Edge, Fashion Group International Conference to be held in November. She was the youngest councillor to be appointed to the board of the Fashion Industries of Australia (FIA).

Claudia will be hosting a trunk show at Monkeys, 306 Libbie Avenue, Richmond, VA on Thursday April 17th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm featuring hand loomed knits from Australia. A portion of the proceeds of the sales will benefit the “Love of Lindsay” fund to benefit VCU Fashion Merchandising alumnae, Lindsay Ess that tragically became a quadruple amputee last year as results of complications from Crones disease.

 

 




C2C/CITDA Design Competition: Two VCU Students are Finalists

February 19, 2008


Contacts information:
Chairperson Karen M. Videtic: 804-828-5431
Professor Kristen Caskey: 804-828-1699

Casey Bianco and Jessica Lee, Fashion Design students at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising have been selected as finalists in the AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) 2008 C2C/CITDA Design Competition: Earth Day, Every Day. The competition received 140 entries from 25 different international institutions with the finalists submitting story boards and final products for judging on May 5, 2008. The winning entries will receive cash awards of $1,000 for first place and $500.00 for second place in each sub category.

Casey Bianco was also awarded a trip to Bradford, England to compete for the Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDS) Global Design competition award in mid-April 2008.

The finalists are as follows:

Apparel Design Category, Fabric Design Sub-category Finalists


Green with the Wind by Jessica Murphy, Syracuse University
Intertwined by Miriam Carlson, Dominican University
Iris by Jessica Lee, Virginia Commonwealth University
Night Lights by Caitlin Bridgers, Drexel University
Old Motifs, New Fabric: Low Impact Fiber Reactive Dye Printed on Bamboo Fabric by Rita Fawcett, Rhode Island School of Design

Apparel Design Category, Product Design Sub-category Finalists


Bamboosie by Carolyn Wilkins, Esther Chang, Johanna Medina, and Kathryn McKoy, North Carolina State University
Natural Beauty by Casey Bianco, Virginia Commonwealth University
Recycled with Love by Lauren Waterman, Illinois State University
Save the African Safari by Allie Thielens, Cornell University
Seamless Flying Seeds by Wang Xue Qin, Institute of Textiles & Clothing-Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The website for AATCC is: http://www.aatcc.org/




International Fashion Design Competition
“Vietnam Collection Grand Prix 2007” : VCU Faculty represents United States


Contact: Karen Videtic
804.828.1699
kmvidetic@vcu.edu


Karen M. Videtic, Chairperson of the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Virginia Commonwealth was invited to juror the Vietnam Grand Prix Collection 2007 on September 23 at Quan Hall in Hanoi. Ms. Videtic was one of a panel of domestic and foreign fashion professionals including Francine Pairon (France), Junko Koshino (Japan), Celia Loe (Singapore), Ji Wenbo ( China) and Minh Hanh (Vietnam) to select Nguyen Tron Hoang as this year’s grand prize winner or young designer of the year.

This contest is the largest of its kind in Vietnam with over 1,100 candidates that initially apply for the opportunity to show in front of the jury. The top 25 collections appear in front of the international jury to compete for the first prize of 30 million VND, and the opportunity to pursue additional education.

To find additional information about this year’s competition go to: http://www.qdnd.vn/army/vietnam.Culture-Sports.9834.qdnd




Kathleen Gasperini Discusses Today’s Youth Trends


Kathleen Gasperini, internationally acclaimed industry leader on global youth culture, marketing intelligence, research, and branding strategies discusses today’s youth trends.

Kathleen Gasperini, internationally acclaimed industry leader on global youth culture, marketing intelligence, research, and branding strategies will speak to the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising and the VCU academic community, on Wednesday, October 24th at 7:00 pm in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts at 922 Park Avenue on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus.

Ms. Gasperini is a principal with Label Networks, whose “goal is to find out what’s truly going on inside the youth cultures of 13-25-year-olds on a local, regional, + global level.” They…. “work from the inside out, organically identifying the most influential components of new trends by being in the environments where such trends are taking place, + then looking at it from different viewpoints + across cultures.”

Ms. Gasperini’s background includes over 15 years experience from running grassroots to global campaigns, event production, branding, and visionary writing about various youth market trends, her work and that of Label Networks has appeared in the New York Times, BrandWeek, Advertising Age, Yahoo! Financial News, the AP, Philadelphia Inquirer, St. Petersburg Times, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Sports Illustrated, Red Nova, Elle, Vogue, Spin, Vibe, Bread & Butter Bulletin Magazine, Transworld Publications’ Surfing, Skateboarding, and Snowboarding, among others.

http://www.labelnetworks.com/principals.cfm

Calendar

February 17-20
Las Vegas Field Trip to Men's Apparel Guild in California (MAGIC) Trade Show

May 1
Annual Juried Fashion Show @ 7pm

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