Students will present the third annual Ravenwood Runway, with more than 100 original designs in a Project Runway-style fashion competition.

Updated Monday, May 2
Students compete with their designs in Saturday fashion show
 

By AMY STUMPFL
For Brentwood Home Page
Teenagers have a special knack for using fashion as a form of self-expression. But for one hardworking group of students at Ravenwood High School, it’s not enough to simply follow the latest trends – they’re setting their own.

On Saturday, April 30, the school’s Fashion Design students presented the third annual Ravenwood Runway, featuring more than 100 original designs. The show, which is titled “Thirsty for Fashion,” featured 11 drink-inspired collections, such as “Pink Lemonade,” “Skinny Latte” and “Hot Chocolate.”

Erica Graddy and Victoria Loftin created A Walk on the Wildside. (Photos by Alexa Goss)

In addition, 11 private collections – all completed outside the classroom – were presented by advanced students competing for a $1,000 scholarship from the school’s production club (FCCLA), plus more than $14,000 in scholarship awards from O’More College of Design in Franklin. A panel of judges from O’More, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and Vanderbilt University Costume Design critiqued each collection.

Ravenwood’s fashion design and merchandising teacher Sabrina Maggart says the show – which is modeled after television’s popular Project Runway – marks the culmination of many months’ work.

“It’s a wonderful format for the students to shine,” said Maggart, a 20-year teaching veteran, now in her fourth year at RHS. “It makes everything they’ve learned more real. It’s more than just turning in the design for a grade – some of these girls wore their designs to the prom.”

Indeed, seniors Victoria Loftin and Erica Graddy say they have learned much more than just fashion from Maggart. The two friends, who plan to room together this fall at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, teamed up to create “A Walk on the Wildside” – a collection of fun party looks featuring bright colors and animal prints.

“I’ve learned to think outside the box, to really trust my instincts as I play around with the fabric,” Loftin said. “I feel really confident about heading to college because I have a lot of experience.”

Alec Abbott created XOXOA, a modern twist on Barbie doll classics, with Ashley Jones.

Senior Alec Abbott agreed, noting that he had almost no experience coming into the class last August. Abbott, who is headed to East Tennessee State University, worked with junior Ashley Jones to create “XOXO A” – which offers a modern twist on classic Barbie doll looks, complete with all the bling.

“I’ve been drawing since I was little, but I had never really sewn before,” said Abbott, one of only two boys in the fashion design program. “One of my mom’s friends donated her sewing machine, and someone else had a dress form, so now I have my own little studio down in the basement. It’s been a great experience. Ashley and I really played off each other well, and it’s been exciting to see our ideas take shape.”

One of the show’s most unique collections comes from Young Ah Kim, who used recycled materials such as trash bags, aluminum foil and disposable gloves to create “Fantrashtic.”

“I’ve always been interested in fashion, but this is my first time really making clothes,” said the senior, who will attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York this fall. “I liked the idea of using recycled materials for my garments, and showing people that trash bags can be beautiful.”

In addition to the show, students have produced a magazine called Threads, featuring everything from fashion photo shoots and style articles to sketches of original designs.Maggart calls the runway show a true collaborative effort, drawing on the time and talents of many student organizations.  “It’s all about the students,” she said. “They create the designs, they model them. Our photography students shoot stills, the marketing students design the tickets and programs, and media production takes care of sound and lighting and even produces a DVD of the event.”

“I think they have as much fun putting the magazine together as they do with the show,” Maggart said. “And it definitely gives them good material to use in college portfolios. I’m so proud of all their hard work. It’s very inspiring to me to hear the music come up and watch those kids come down the runway. It’s quite a rush.”

Hannah Trainer and Haylee Greer	Young Ah Kim with her Fantrashtic line
Ali Blair and Missy Philbee	Jessica Stevens
Kelsey Woosley and Allie Vella