Future Fashionistas
Story and photos by Claire Gearhart, BHS sophomore and BPS101 Communications Department intern
The future of fashion was on the catwalk at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre on Sat., Jan. 20.
Third, fourth, and fifth graders took part in an event called “Future Fashionista” where they were charged with designing, creating, and modeling fashions made with unconventional materials. Batavia High School art students worked alongside each junior designer to help bring the creations to life.
“I started Future Fashionista as a feeder program to Rock the Runway and, at the time, to help Studio [Boosters] raise money to purchase our production kiln,” said Dawn Zalkus, BHS art teacher. “Since then, Future Fashionista has become a joint fundraising effort between Studio, BHS Rock the Runway, and the National Art Honor Society.”
Impressive detail work in this student’s fashion accessory.
Future Fashionista was a hit with the kids! From noon until 4 p.m., the elementary school students worked with their BHS mentors to construct jewelry and headbands and other accessories as well as embellished clothing.
“I made my skirt out of cardboard, book paper, and origami. I just really love origami and wanted to put it on my skirt!” said fifth grader, Faith Borre.
After making their products, the junior designers headed into the dressing room in the Batavia Fine Arts Centre for hair and makeup in preparation for a fashion show in the Batavia Fine Arts Centre’s Black Box theatre.
Students came out one by one and walked down a platform to display their hard work in front of their parents … and a panel of judges.
After the show, the judges chose their top three designs. The winners—Avery Kelly, first place; Maria Kadochnikova, second place; and Addie Moonshower, third place—received flowers and an invite to walk the runway at the highly anticipated BHS Rock the Runway show at 7:30 p.m. on March 16 on Batavia Fine Arts Centre’s main stage.
Congrats to the Future Fashionistas! We’re looking forward to seeing you rock your designs at the 2018 BHS Rock the Runway!
