Huntington High School fashion design students recently showed off their work at two public shows in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium that coincided with the district’s annual art show.
The show consisted of Fashion I, II and III students plus several guest models. The students made a variety of garments, including dresses, tops, skirts, pants and aprons. In addition, students in Fashion II and III up-cycled garments into new fashions.
Art teacher Kim Valerio heads the high school fashion design program and she smiled broadly throughout the afternoon and evening shows. Department colleague Alison Hagedorn assisted with the event, which was a lively affair.
“The turnout for the two fashion shows was very good,” Ms. Valerio said. “The 7 p.m. show was crowded despite the heavy rain and thunder that was going on outside. All the students did a great job.”
Senior Olivia Hannigan, who is interning with Ms. Valerio served as master of ceremonies, announcing each of the students as they entered the runway. “Olivia created many looks for the fashion show,” Ms. Valerio said. “She left some of the pieces on the dress forms on display at the art show. During the fashion shows, Olivia wore an asymmetrical jacket with green trim that she created.”
Senior Lindsay Martin, walked the runway in another of Ms. Hannigan’s creations; a wool jacket with leather bell sleeves and grommets and lacing in the front. Ms. Hannigan also won a Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence for a book she created that combined her fashion designs and illustrations with historical information about her great-grandmother’s life and experiences during the Armenian genocide.
This marks Ms. Valerio’s third year heading the high school’s fashion program. She also teaches Creative Crafts.
The student designers showing their work included:
Fashion I: Samantha Argueta, Maikol Arreaga, Katherin Bonilla-Banegas, Sydni Bosley, Michelle Castillo-Lopez, Niurca Chabla-Leon, Ana Diaz, Sabrina Garcia, Kevin Granados-Lopez, Arianna Guerrero, Danielle Lamarco, Bianca Lella, Paige Mangan, Afroditi Mountanos, Chelsea Munoz, Yulissa Nunez Gomez, Eunice Ramos, Jayla Rivera, Joey Senia, Rashiem Sexton, Kate Sheran, Natalie St. Ours, Bridgette Starr, Yajaira Torres, Jasminelane Acevedo-Ortiz, Keziah Baker, Riva Bergman, Lucy Biblow, Ava Brosnan, Johanna Campos-Moreira, Lainey Carney, Joe-Anne Clerveaux, Jhosselyn Gomez Hernandez, Yessica Granados Campos, Mariana Jackson, Isyss Jones, Marilyn Menjivar Lobos, Tania Perez-Marquez, Jackeline Ramirez-Tzoy, Alexa Splendorio, Cori Thomason, Steven Torres Varela, Gabrielle Trimboli, Ivania Velasquez-Rodriquez
Fashion II: Brooke Biernacki, Baylie Larsen, Jeraine Nieves-Morales, Katherine Russak, Kaitlyn Smith, Natalia Stamatatos, Tyra Thompson, Jeni Vilorio
Fashion III: Camille Cozine, Shaye O’Beirne, Ciara Thompson, Neida Valencia, Nicole Walsh
Some of the show’s highlights included:
• Senior Fashion III student Camille Cozine upcycled an oversized men’s suit. She cut the jacket shorter and made the matching pants into jogger style pants. Ms. Cozine added grommets and chains to create a very modern street look.
• Senior Fashion II student Katherine Russak also created a very modern street look. She took a green hoodie jacket, distressed it, added grommets and used a bleach pen to add graffiti style lettering and designs to it. She then paired it with urban styled black and white gingham pants that she created.
• Sophomore Fashion II student Baylie Larsen created two looks for the fashion show. The first was a light blue and white dress with elastic. The second look was a matching black and white bandeau top and pants upcycled from a long dress.
• Senior Fashion I student Afroditi Mountanos walked the runway twice; first in a pair of brown pants that she made and a second time in a red flower printed dress with sleeves and a belt to tie in the back. Her friend, Kristen Tate walked the runway in another dress that Ms. Mountanos made; a yellow flower printed dress with the same styling as the red dress.
• Sophomore Fashion I student Paige Mangan has been very busy this year, pursuing all sorts of sewing projects, including a quilted blanket, a dress on display at the art show and several wearable garments. For the runway, the teenager wore a matching top and pants that she created.
On display at the district’s art show were a pair of quilts made by Ms. Valerio’s Fashion I students. One quilt spelled out the word “fashion” in each panel, along with some words and images related to fashion. “The quilt was made by my seventh period Fashion I class, with each student creating a panel on the quilt,” the teacher said.
A second quilt was made by Ms. Valerio’s fifth period Fashion I class in memory of classmate Joey Manaker. Each student created a panel. The panels spell out Mr. Manaker’s name and include words and images that describe him. “We plan to donate the quilt to his family,” Ms. Valerio said.
A graduate of Harborfields High School, Ms. Valerio holds an undergraduate degree from Parsons School of Design. After working for many years in graphic arts, mostly in New York City, she returned to college and obtained a master’s degree in art education at Long Island University-CW Post.
Ms. Valerio completed her student teaching requirements in Huntington. She then worked as a substitute teacher in Huntington and in several other surrounding districts. She was hired as a part-time art teacher in Huntington in 2010 and became full-time in 2015. Throughout the years she has worked in all eight buildings in the district in some capacity. Ms. Valerio teaches courses in Creative Crafts and Fashion at Huntington High School and directs the student fashion shows at the annual district-wide art show.
