Fashion Program Takes Root in Huntington
In a relatively short period of time the fashion program at Huntington High School has built a fiercely loyal following and carved out a seemingly solid niche, not only in a crowded field of academic offerings but in the lives of students who have tightly embraced it.
In an effort to meet the advanced skills and career interests of students in the program, a new course debuted this fall. Fashion Design and Illustration III is the third pillar in what has become a very popular course of study.
Fashion alumni are now ensconced at various colleges around the country and world, with Christine Kang in London. Such placements are expected to multiply in coming years as more students make their way through the program and develop a career interest in the field.
Fashion Design and Illustration I students learn to illustrate the fashion figure and construct a garment from a pattern. Second year students explore draping on a fashion form and advanced illustration, creating a garment from their own design.
The third level tilts toward the business of fashion and producing a portfolio of illustrations and designs that expresses a personal style and high level of competence. Students will create a fashion magazine, understand the workings of the merchandising and management side of the fashion and have hands-on experience producing the annual fashion show.
Project-based Learning
Art teachers Kristin Singer and Amy Worth are the driving forces behind Huntington’s fashion initiative. Department director Joan R. Fretz said the program is a perfect example of what project-based learning is all about. It’s a philosophy that’s one of the core elements in educational reform today.
“Courses that provide learning that is project-oriented and relevant to the student capture the student's interest and motivation, provide meaningful in-depth learning and allow for advanced skill development,” Mrs. Fretz said. “Fashion design is not just about making clothes. The process of drawing and creating fashions uses learning from all subject areas and provides countless opportunities to develop ones creativity, problem solving and collaboration skills. These 21st century skills are exactly what colleges and the business world is looking for and developing them in a program that you enjoy while producing an end product that represents your effort, is a rewarding and motivating learning experience.”
Community members saw a glimpse of just how far students and the program have come during a series of fashion shows last spring. The display was awe-inspiring and the student-designers and runway models reveled in accolades and applause.
Designed Inaugural Gowns
One of the highlights of the past year came when Huntington students analyzed the fashion style of First Lady Michelle Obama and then identified appropriate style choices and discussed the historical significance of being the designer of an inaugural gown. The teenagers designed gowns and later voted on their favorite design of such a gown by a professional designer. In this case it was one by Oscar de la Renta, who created a spaghetti strap dress.
The students sent their designs to Mrs. Obama and asked the First Lady and her daughters to choose their favorite illustration. Mrs. Obama responded in writing, telling the Huntington teenagers that it was impossible to pick a single winner. “The illustrations were all so beautiful, and it’s obvious how much work you put into each drawing,” she wrote. “They’re all such elegant, creative works and I would be proud to wear any of your creations.”
“Michelle Obama served as a wonderful inspiration and role model for our students,” Mrs. Singer said. “Because the lesson had a real world application, all the students were incredibly engaged. The fashion students were elated to receive such a thoughtful response from the first lady.”
The fashion courses focus on problem solving skills, cooperative learning and practical application, skills the teachers hope students can apply, not only in the fashion classroom, but also in the real world.
For more information about the fashion program contact Mrs. Singer (ksinger@hufsd.edu), Ms. Worth (aworth@hufsd.edu) or Mrs. Fretz (673-2106 or jfretz@hufsd.edu).
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