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Fashion and photogrammetry: Communications senior captures couture in 3D

goersab — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:29:12 +0000

Fashion and photogrammetry: Communications senior captures couture in 3Dgoersab April 29, 2025

Student’s apparel collections will premiere at WEAR Fashion Show, May 3

Before stepping onto the runway at ��Ͽ�’s annual WEAR Fashion Show on Saturday, May 3, two fashion design and development students and their models joined Anna Mathsen, a professional and technical communication senior, for a photoshoot in the university’s PARSEC Lab.

This was no ordinary photoshoot, however. For her digital humanities capstone project, Mathsen is building a digital fashion portfolio of her friends’ apparel collections using the PARSEC Lab’s 3D-modeling photogrammetry software.

The collections, created by Mathsen’s boyfriend, Evan Tomczyk, and roommate, Lucas Moreno-Martinez III, will be premiered at WEAR, along with more than a dozen of their fashion design peers.

Professional communications senior Anna Mathsen, left, is using the PARSEC Lab to capture 3D imagery of fashion design students' collections

Moreno-Martinez’s collection “Vex” features four outfits inspired by Dracula’s brides and represents his different personalities. “The collection is versatile, with silhouettes that are both familiar and impractical, with dreamlike textures,” he said.

Tomczyk enjoys designing jackets. “Pants make an outfit, but jackets make it interesting,” he said. Two of his four jackets designed this semester will be modeled at WEAR.

WEAR will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. The vivid runway display showcases and celebrates fashion students’ innovative collections and illustrates their journey from hands-on, studio-based learning to wearable, industry-forward couture.

View the WEAR Fashion Show trailer and purchase tickets online.

Isaac Tester, a graphic design and interactive media senior, models a suit designed by Evan Tomczyk

��Ͽ� fashion design graduates work in major design houses and apparel companies, including lululemon, Steve Madden, Ardisam Inc., Nike, Patagonia, and more, and have founded their own design houses, like the international boutique Mara Marie Bridal.

Fashion and photogrammetry

PARSEC – or Photogrammetry and Reflectivity for STEM Research and Education in the Chippewa Valley – is a photogrammetry space within ��Ͽ�’s Fab Lab.

It has 120 DSLR cameras mounted on a frame to capture 120 photos of an object or person simultaneously. The images, taken within milliseconds, are imported into software that stitches the images together into a detailed 3D model.

The technology is used to create assets in video games, architectural models, interactive digital artifacts for museums and more.

Claire Jost, an industrial design student, models a dress designed by fashion design senior Lucas Moreno-Martinez III

Mathsen, of Eden Prairie, had done a manual photogrammetry project in a previous digital humanities class, where she took dozens of photos asynchronously by hand and edited them herself to create a high-resolution scan.

“The PARSEC Lab is much more efficient. I was excited to use the equipment here. I hope more students use this space for their projects,” she said.

For her portfolio, Mathsen wanted to utilize what she’d learned and cater to her friends’ interests. “I admire fashion, and Evan and Lucas have a passion for design. I wanted to spotlight their work, their design process and completed looks,” she said.

Mathsen is using the Shorthand website creator to build the lookbook for the apparel collections. Student models were Marilena Grado, a fashion design student; Claire Jost, an industrial design student; and Isaac Tester, a graphic design and interactive media senior.

Claire Jost, Lucas Moreno-Martinez III and Marilena Grado

Moreno-Martinez, a senior from Vesper, enjoys designing women’s wear and bringing his concepts to life.

“Vex” includes four outfits: one that shows the wearer is ready to go out for the night, one that is childlike, one that is masculine, and one that is wishful – a red bridal dress, reminiscent of “Beetlejuice.” His designs also remind him of his favorite song that his grandpa used to whistle.

“My grandpa got me to where I am today,” said Moreno-Martinez, who will graduate in December.

Tomczyk, a sophomore from Duluth, Minnesota, is inspired by older designers and tailoring styles and often finds styles by looking through his grandma’s catalogs from the 1930s. Modern international designers he admires are Martin Margiela and Junya Watanabe.

Among Tomczyk’s finely tailored suit jackets, he created an afterhood – a sweatshirt with a hood added to the garment after it is sewn – and a pair of cargo pants with patchwork to match the hoodie. Afterhoods were common in the 1930s and 1940s for winter sports.

Tomczyk will intern this summer as a tailor’s apprentice with Martin Patrick 3, in Minneapolis.

Evan Tomczyk, Anna Mathsen and Isaac Tester

Hosted by the WEAR Fashion Association student organization, WEAR is part of ��Ͽ�’s Spring Showcase of student-centered events in April and May. Seniors also create their own design house, complete with brand names, marketing materials and business plans. Their collections will be on display at a trade show-style exhibit after the event in the MSC ballrooms, where attendees can meet the designers and see the garments up close.

Planning for this year’s event started late last summer. Faculty encouraged underclassmen to submit work, a process new to the event, which previously showcased senior capstone collections and select works by juniors. Among the capstone collections, WEAR will feature 10 suits by underclassmen, tied to an assignment directed by Program Director Sarah Eileen Smith.

“WEAR Fashion Show is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their work in a professional setting as they jumpstart their careers. It’s been inspiring to see new and seasoned students step up and take ownership of their creative growth this year,” said WEAR faculty adviser Bex Cermin.

“I’m especially impressed by the students who created complete two- to four-piece collections outside of any class project or assignment, just for this show. That kind of initiative and drive speaks volumes about the impact an upcoming, fashion-forward event can have on young artists and designers,” Cermin said.

Tester, Tomczyk and Mathsen watch as the images are downloaded to the software

Other ��Ͽ� fashion-focused events include Fashion Without Fabric. The sold-out show on April 12 featured 120 sculptured costume designs by 3D Design students, representing natural and man-made phenomena connected by this year’s theme, “Phenomonie!”

A student and community resource

Computer science Professor Seth Berrier built the software and complex camera system and manages the lab.

“We’ve had four student projects in the PARSEC Lab since it opened. Anna’s is the first communications/fashion design collaboration we’ve had,” he said.

Professional communications Professor Mitch Ogden, Mathsen’s capstone mentor, thinks, “Anna’s photogrammetry project is an inspiring example of Stout’s polytechnic model and is a convergence of degree disciplines. Where else do you get to see fashion and apparel design, computer science and technical communication come together? This is the cross-disciplinary magic of the digital humanities.

“Our program is pushing the envelope for what we think of as ‘content’ and how we imagine putting that content into the world. Photogrammetry is a powerful approach. Already, clothing retailers are exploring moves towards 3D modeling of clothes,” Ogden added. “As technologies evolve and our consumer habits with them, there will be continued innovation in this field. Anna’s project prepares her to be ready for those opportunities of the future.”

Berrier's software pieces together the 120 images to create a 3D model in a matter of minutes

Berrier would like to make the lab portable to bring the cameras to clients and to various campus events, such as Fashion Without Fabric. He is also hoping the lab can be a part of the new Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Space in development in the University Library.

The PARSEC Lab opened in 2022 and was made possible through a National Science Foundation grant. Internal and external partners have included the University Library Archives and the Dunn County Historical Society to capture artifacts using 3D imagery.

The Fab Lab is free to use for ��Ͽ� students. Training on laser cutters, 3D printers and leading-edge digital fabrication tools empowers students to design, prototype and build nearly anything they envision. Through memberships, it is available for community members to use after completion of the Introduction to Fab Lab Equipment training.

The fashion design and development program is part of the School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. It also offers bachelor’s degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; and video production, as well as an M.F.A. in design. ��Ͽ� also has a new program in game and media studies.

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Fashion and photogrammetry: Communications senior captures couture in 3D

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Student’s apparel collections will premiere at WEAR Fashion Show, May 3 Parsec Lab, fashion design portfolio

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Our B.S. Fashion Design & Development emphasizes current industry practices, internship opportunities, and career placement.

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B.S. Professional & Technical Communication

Our B.S. Professional & Technical Communication program offers you a variety of career paths in professional content creation.

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Stout Fashion Show

Join us for the annual Stout Fashion Show, ��Ͽ�'s premier runway showcase of student fashion collections.

Search Keywords: fashion design and development degreeWEAR Fashion ShowphotogrammetryPARSEC Lab

Hero Caption: Marilena Grado, a fashion design student, models a corset and skirt designed by fashion design senior Lucas Moreno-Martinez.

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Fashion design seniors bring collections to life at WEAR Fashion Show April 27

goersab — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:49:07 +0000

Fashion design seniors bring collections to life at WEAR Fashion Show April 27goersab April 15, 2024

From bridalwear to social awareness- and golf-inspired attire, designs will be displayed after runway show

Abbey Goers Rachel Hallgrimson

Modeling their senior capstone clothing collections on the runway is the culminating experience for fashion design and development students’ polytechnic education at ��Ͽ�.

For Reem Emerson, Emma Cinealis and Sofia Morin, who will graduate on Saturday, May 4, the WEAR Fashion Show is their opportunity to finally see their bridalwear, social awareness- and golf-inspired collections come to life.

WEAR will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. Tickets are required and are available to purchase online.

Ten seniors and one first-year student will show 45 outfits, modeled by the designers themselves, family, friends and alumni.

Morin will show her golf-inspired collection at WEAR. / ��Ͽ�

For their capstone, seniors each developed a four-look collection, creating their own design house, complete with brand names, marketing materials and business plans. Their collections will be on display at a trade show-style exhibit after the runway event in the MSC ballrooms, where attendees can meet the designers and see the garments up close.

Hosted by the WEAR Fashion Association student organization, WEAR is part of ��Ͽ�’s Spring Showcase of student-centered events in April and May.

View last year’s WEAR.

Other ��Ͽ� fashion-focused events include Fashion Without Fabric. The sold-out show on April 6, featured 117 sculptured costume designs by 3D Design first-year students, representing this year’s theme of Philias and Phobias. View Fashion Without Fabric.

Runway to imagination: ��Ͽ�’s sold-out Fashion Without Fabric unfolds fears with theme of Philias and Phobias

‘Love of Books’ named scholarship winner; ‘The Prime Divine’ proves number 13 can be lucky

Transcendence Drag and Burlesque celebrated Trans Day of Visibility on March 26. Hosted by the Involvement Center, the Qube and ��Ͽ�’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance, the cabaret is an alumnus-founded and produced, BIPOC-centered, trans/gender nonconforming troupe of performers.

Golden Age-inspired bridalwear

Emerson’s capstone collection is a bridalwear line inspired by her trip to the Netherlands a few years ago, when she toured the historic home of the famous painter Rembrandt.

“I was awed by his realistic still-life work,” she said. “These paintings from the Dutch Golden Age are iconic for highlighting the subject with dramatic lighting and setting them against a completely black background. This contrast intentionally highlights the subject so the viewer can see every detail painted.

Emerson will show her bridalwear collection at WEAR. / ��Ͽ�

“In bridalwear, we take a lot of care to ensure the bride is the main focus of her wedding. So, I wanted to create wedding garments that stand out, demand attention and force everything surrounding the bride to fade to the background.”

Emerson, who also has a degree in industrial design from ��Ͽ�, learned much of her hand-sewing techniques while interning last summer at Beauty By Design, in Minneapolis. She put it all to the test in her bridalwear collection.

“I learned a lot of couture dressmaking techniques at my internship. My collection is handmade with professionalism. Each piece was hand-designed, patterned and crafted. No detail is by chance,” she said. “I am very excited to show the black wedding dress from my collection. I feel that this specific dress really embodies my inspiration and is unlike anything currently available on the bridalwear market.”

Emerson's designs are hand-sewn. / ��Ͽ�

Emerson, of St. Paul, enjoys exploring textures, fabric and silhouettes. “I love thinking outside the box and get really excited when I come up with something I know is trend-forward and not yet on the market,” she said.

Outfits with a deeper meaning

Cinealis’ inspiration for her collection, Don’t Ask, Don't Tell, was based on the struggles she’s faced with the public’s reaction towards her sexuality. The purpose of her collection is to bring awareness to the way that society treats the lesbian community.

Her outfit “Concealment” represents the constant fear that she feels when coming out to new people, while the outfit “Oversexualization” represents how sexualized society makes the lesbian community out to be.

Cinealis will show 'Oversexualization,' part of her Don't Ask, Don't Tell collection, at WEAR. / ��Ͽ�

Her outfit “Isolation,” an exaggerated puffer coat, represents the isolating feeling of being different from everyone and the constant reminder from the public of how different she’s made to feel. Cinealis loves the coat because it’s fun and different from anything else she’s done before.

But her favorite piece in her collection is “Hypermasculine,” a power suit that represents how society expects there to be a more masculine role in lesbian relationships.

“It’s the most detailed outfit and the closest related to what I want to do outside of college. I think the audience will understand the deeper meaning of this outfit the most,” she said.

Cinealis' exaggerated puffer coat, 'Isolation,' is different than anything she's made before. / ��Ͽ�

Cinealis, of Sheboygan, enjoys the freedom of the initial sketching process. “I love the trial and error of seeing what I want to feature on an outfit and what I want to keep out,” she said.

Fashion, on par

Morin, of Buffalo, Minn., has golfed most of her life and played on the ��Ͽ� Blue Devils team her first year. Her collection, Tradition, is inspired by the characters she observed and interacted with during her time on the course.

“I was interested in the history of American golf, the roles that we consistently have that other countries do not and the personalities of the people that hold the roles. Specifically, ‘The Golfer,’ ‘The Caddy,’ ‘The Cart Girl,’ ‘The Groundskeeper’ and ‘The Member's Wife,’” she said.

Morin works on her 'Tradition Duffle.' / ��Ͽ�

Her favorite piece is her addition of the “Tradition Duffle,” a clubhouse classic that pulls the theme of her collection together.

“The shape is classic, and the lettering is nostalgic. But the materials and hardware give it a more modern and refined look,” Morin said. “I am not sure if it will walk the runway, but it will be displayed at the exhibit before and after the show.”

Morin embellishes her designs by leather tooling accessories. / ��Ͽ�

Her favorite part of the creation process was seeing the collection go from ideas to physical pieces. “It is so fulfilling to see the looks come to life on the model and watch how they can become the character I put them in,” she said.

Designing their careers

Cinealis, Emerson and Morin believe the program, its professors and internships have prepared them for their careers.

“We have gotten to learn everything that we could possibly be doing in our careers from sketching, creating tech flats and tech packs, patterning, draping, to sewing and tailoring,” Cinealis said. “Our professors also help us a lot with perfecting our portfolios and resumes. Stout has enhanced my skills as a designer, expanded my network and fully prepared me for my career post-graduation.”

Cinealis and Morin were hired before graduation. Cinealis will be an assistant designer at Kohl's in Menomonee Falls. Her twin sister, Ava, is also graduating this spring with a degree in applied biochemistry and molecular biology.

Morin plans to move to New York to start her career with Steve Madden on the Anne Klein fashion accessories team and will continue to grow her own accessory brand on the side.

“I am so impressed with all the work our professors and leaders are doing to push the program forward and give it the attention it deserves to grow strong designers and industry leaders,” she said.

Emerson, center, and Professor Jongeun Rhee, left, talk about a bridalwear design. / ��Ͽ�

Emerson is a freelance designer and bridal consultant in St. Paul and is interviewing for full-time positions where she can help companies bring ideas to life.

��Ͽ�’s fashion design and development program is now part of the university’s College of Arts and Human Sciences design department.

The university’s 2022-23 First Destination Outcomes survey reported 100% of program graduates were either working within the industry with an average yearly salary of $53,000, or are continuing their education.

Fashion Design & Development

All Fashion Design & Development News

Fashion and photogrammetry: Communications senior captures couture in 3D

Student’s apparel collections will premiere at WEAR Fashion Show, May 3

$3.5M gift from alumni to Foundation will provide eight full tuition scholarships per year

Two alumni whose career paths were determined and lives shaped during their college days at ��Ͽ� are supporting future student success.

Outside in: M.F.A. student hits Omaha Fashion Week runway with nature-inspired collection

Cermin, a fashion design instructor, to featured at one of the nation's largest fashion events

From bridalwear to social awareness- and golf-inspired attire, designs will be displayed after runway show Fashion design student Sofia Morin in the fashion development studio

University Marketing

B.S. Fashion Design & Development

Our B.S. Fashion Design & Development emphasizes current industry practices, internship opportunities, and career placement.

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Hero Caption: Fashion design senior Emma Cinealis in the fashion development studio. Cinealis and other seniors will show their capstone collections at WEAR on April 27

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Walk the walk: ��Ͽ� fashion and retail students own the runway at WEAR Fashion Show April 29

goersab — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:34:46 +0000

Walk the walk: ��Ͽ� fashion and retail students own the runway at WEAR Fashion Show April 29goersab April 24, 2023

Apparel seniors also to unveil capstone collections at trade show-style exhibit, both at Memorial Student Center

Abbey Goers

From lions and lambs to gothic and medieval royalty to mental health awareness, there is no inspirational ground left uncovered for ��Ͽ� fashion and retail students as they prepare to grace the runway at the WEAR Fashion Show.

As part of ��Ͽ�’s Showcase of student-centered events in April and May, fashion and retail students’ clothing collections will be featured at WEAR at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. Tickets are available online.

Juniors and seniors will show approximately 36 pieces in women’s and men’s collections, modeled by the designers themselves, their brothers and sisters and alumni.

From Grace Wilsmann's senior capstone collection "Lion and the Lamb" / Ava Hedlund

For their capstone course, seniors developed full collections, complete with brand names; marketing materials, such as photos, videos and postcards; and business plans, which they will display at a trade show-style exhibit after the runway show, in the MSC ballrooms.

The event is hosted by the WEAR Fashion Association student organization. This will be the second in-person event since COVID, when two virtual shows were presented.

A professor’s pride in students’ persistence

The fashion and retail program began in fall 2022, with the merging of the apparel design and development program; and the retail merchandising and management program.

Among the seven apparel design seniors who will exhibit their collections after WEAR, are Brenda Givens, of Minneapolis, and Grace Wilsmann, of Waconia, Minn.

Apparel design and development seniors Brenda Givens and Grace Wilsmann / ��Ͽ�

Givens’ collection, “Dissimulation,” is a representation of the mental health condition of concealing one’s thoughts, feelings or character, and of how emotional suppression can lead to depression.

“People who are depressed may wear a mask of happiness to disguise it and to uphold a ‘perfect image,” Givens said. “Masking their pain leaves them to sit in sorrow when they're alone, leaving their depression untreated. This collection is a tribute to those people. You are seen.”

From Brenda Givens' senior capstone collection "Dissimulation" / Brenda Givens

Givens would like to develop a second part of her collection, “Expression,” reflecting the possible regrowth as a person finds their self-expression again. Her passion for the industry is in “making others feel confident in their skin. No matter how down I am, putting on a certain outfit can completely change my mood,” she said. “Fashion has a way of uplifting and bringing people together. It is my aspiration to serve up options for anyone who feels like they don't have them.”

Wilsmann’s collection, “Lion and the Lamb,” is inspired by hope. “Despite life's inevitable roller coaster of ups and downs; all of the fears, change, self-discovery, nostalgia, identity crisis, trauma, depression, you name it, there is hope,” she states in her exhibit biography.

Wilsmann joined the apparel program because of her love for science and engineering. “I knew I wanted to be in that realm, but my lack of math skills held me back,” she said. “Apparel design was my way in. It just clicks, and I love that. It fuels me and pushes me to go beyond my limits. It merges all of my passions into something I can comprehend – history, science, engineering, art.”

Professor Jongeun Rhee instructs the apparel design and development capstone class. She has been instructing the seven seniors since their first year when there were originally 40 students in the cohort. The class was directly hit by COVID, as universities across the country shifted to alternative learning methods in spring 2020, Rhee said.

“All our classes are lab-based and hands-on. Learning topics online during COVID was very painful for both students and instructors,” she said. “Afterwards, it came down to the seven seniors. I am extremely proud of them. They have been strong and persistent, completing their degrees and capstone projects. These students are special to me in that sense.”

Givens’ and Wilsmann’s hope of returning to the hands-on polytechnic learning environment at ��Ͽ� after the pandemic helped them push through the alternative learning period.

Brenda Givens' Women's Spring/Summer 2022 Collection. Designs from her portfolio / Brenda Givens

“Once I start something, I can’t quit,” Givens said. “My classmates and professors were facing the same struggles as me and we were supportive of one another. The hands-on learning style is why I chose to come to Stout, so there was no other option but to push through.”

“I grew a lot from self-teaching and when we returned to in-person labs again, I had the determination to milk everything I could learn at Stout. I knew Stout had it, I just had to grasp it,” Wilsmann added.

A close-knit community of creators

From Grace Wilsmann's senior capstone collection "Lion and the Lamb" / Ava Hedlund

Wilsmann called the Maker’s and Knitting labs second homes, creating team environments. “The labs encourage you to create. We do not feel limited here. We get to work in a space that is designed to make something happen. It is a very liberating feeling,” she said.

“A lot of colleges claim to be hands-on because they have internship requirements or have ‘labs,’ but Stout takes it the extra mile when it comes to hands-on learning,” Wilsmann added. “In the apparel program, hands-on experiences mean sewing on your first day as a freshman, learning how to drape directly on a mannequin, feeling the fabric swatches and analyzing them under a microscope to see what that fiber looks like on the microscopic level. It’s not just talking in theory.”

Givens agreed, stating that the fashion program built her skills from the ground up. “Other fashion programs make it difficult to enter the industry if you have no experience,” she said. “That’s why I love the program here. Without the accessibility of this program, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to explore this career field.”

Givens has grown an appreciation for the hands-on experience, as she learns better by doing. “The lab spaces aren’t like traditional classrooms,” she said. “We all have the opportunity to work together with our classmates and assist one another with assignments. I love that we are all learning together and cheering each other on.”

Brenda Givens presents her senior capstone collection "Dissimulation," in the Maker's Lab / ��Ͽ�

It was a unique experience for Wilsmann to see the apparel and merchandising programs merge into fashion and retail.

“It has evolved toward something better,” she said. “Our program members and professors are a close-knit community. I feel seen by my professors, which is uncommon in the college world. I do not think this is limited to the apparel program; I think this is more of a Stout-thing and it is pretty remarkable to see.”

Futures in sustainability and intentionality

After graduating on Saturday, May 6, Givens plans to work in the corporate end of the fashion industry. She then hopes to run her own sustainable streetwear brand to “enable others to express their individual personalities.

“There isn’t enough affordable fashion that isn’t detrimental to the environment and has a unique or artistic touch,” she said. “Everyday fashion has become dim and neutral. I would like to bring more color and unique styles to the scene, while also doing my part to minimize the negative effects that the fashion industry has on our environment.”

From Grace Wilsmann's senior capstone collection "Lion and the Lamb" / Ava Hedlund

Wilsmann will graduate in August after completing her internship at Powertex Group, in the apparel and graphic design departments. Powertex Group does full-service merchandising locally and internationally.

“I am excited to be able to blend my passions of apparel and illustration,” Wilsmann said. “I love that they are a local company with a rich history of grit and determination. They are all about intentionality. The apparel industry has a lot of different avenues one can take, and I really like that.”

The fashion and retail program offers three concentrations to match students’ career interests: fashion design and development; fashion marketing; and retail analytics.

Fashion Design & Development

All Fashion Design & Development News

Fashion and photogrammetry: Communications senior captures couture in 3D

Student’s apparel collections will premiere at WEAR Fashion Show, May 3

$3.5M gift from alumni to Foundation will provide eight full tuition scholarships per year

Two alumni whose career paths were determined and lives shaped during their college days at ��Ͽ� are supporting future student success.

Outside in: M.F.A. student hits Omaha Fashion Week runway with nature-inspired collection

Cermin, a fashion design instructor, to featured at one of the nation's largest fashion events

Apparel seniors also to unveil capstone collections at trade show-style exhibit, both at Memorial Student Center From Grace Wilsmann's capstone collection Lion and the Lamb, 1

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Our B.S. Fashion Design & Development emphasizes current industry practices, internship opportunities, and career placement.

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Virtual fashion show keeps apparel design majors’ collections in spotlight

polingj — Wed, 20 May 2020 15:33:21 +0000

Virtual fashion show keeps apparel design majors’ collections in spotlightpolingj May 20, 2020

Special effort needed by students after annual fashion show canceled

What’s a fashion show without the thrill of seeing a live model pirouette in the spotlight wearing an eye-catching new design?

That’s the conundrum the apparel design and development majors at University of Wisconsin-Stout were faced with this spring when their annual WEAR Fashion Show was canceled because of the pandemic.

For WEAR, students design and construct their apparel. The cancellation robbed seniors of the chance to see their final collections take center stage on campus. The show typically sells out.

“It was incredibly hard to announce to the club that there would be no show this year. We had anticipated that it would be one of the biggest yet,” said senior Angel Yang, president of the student WEAR Fashion Association.

“The show is a monumental and celebratory moment for the students, so not being able to host it this year was heartbreaking,” said Yang, of Minneapolis.

The show wouldn’t go on, yet seniors in the program are required to exhibit their work to the public in some way.

So, the 21 seniors went back to work and found another way. They each created a mini-fashion show from home or another space they secured featuring their designs, their models and their “runway.” And they each made a video.

The 21 videos were combined and edited down by show director Cambia Sinclair, a senior from De Pere, into a 38-minute video. The video shines a light on the diverse, professional-level designs students worked on for about 10 months.

“Being able to put together a final ‘fashion show’ video was a way to still showcase to the other WEAR members and our friends and families the countless hours that had been dedicated to our collections,” Yang said. “It was still a success that I think we all appreciated.”

The individual segments include video; still photos with pan zoom or the Ken Burns effect; and animation, all set to music tying to the theme of each collection. Students also had to conduct photo shoots of their designs.

Locations for the segments included a city street, a barn and a lake featuring a water ski team.

“Some students had to completely reconstruct some garments to fit themselves or whoever they could find. Many students who could not find any models had to hang their garments on cloth hangers or lay them on floors. These do not show garment fit and silhouette very well,” said Professor Joan Rhee.

Making alterations

Yang, like her classmates, had to improvise. Her collection, “Oasis,” inspired by the ocean, was almost ready for the WEAR show before the pandemic.

When students left for home in mid-March, however, she had to find new models close to home and refit some of her designs. Luckily, several cousins and a younger sister were available and, for the most part, fit into her creations.

Her collection includes 15 ensembles; several were shown on the video. They were made of medium and lightweight fabrics, such as silk, organza and woven fabrics with various textures.

“Like the abstractness of the ocean, I wanted to create pieces that replicated different aspects of the ocean and the shorelines. I’ve always had a love for asymmetry, volume and femininity. The favorite technique I used was draping. I was able to drape many different aspects of my collection to build volume and ruffled details,” Yang said.

Rhee was impressed with how students adapted and the made the most of the situation. “Our virtual show clearly tells each student’s design story. Every component in a garment collection is interwoven based on their inspirations. I really like this year’s show as everyone’s collection states what the designer wants to communicate with the world.”

The seniors graduated May 9 in a virtual ceremony.

Beginning in the fall, the apparel design program will be part of the new fashion and retail Bachelor of Science program. It combines apparel and the retail merchandising and management program. Rhee is the interim program director.

WEAR is a student-run organization. Members raise funds to enable them to hold the annual fashion show, with support from the Stout Student Association.

Yang is ready to begin her career in the apparel industry, thankful for her experiences at ��Ͽ�, including the last one that forced her to problem-solve and provide leadership for WEAR.

“I will remember my classmates and the dedication of my professors the most. I think that is the beauty of being a part of a smaller fashion program — getting to know your classmates and your teachers on a personal level,” Yang said.

“I will always be grateful for the endless opportunities that Stout has given me to develop my leadership and professionalism."

###

Photos

Angel Yang

Faith Yang models a design from the senior collection by ��Ͽ�’s Angel Yang, an apparel design and development graduate. Faith Yang is Angel Yang’s sister.

Joan Rhee

What’s a fashion show without the thrill of seeing a live model pirouette in the spotlight wearing an eye-catching new design? Angel Yang design

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B.S. Fashion Design & Development

Our B.S. Fashion Design & Development emphasizes current industry practices, internship opportunities, and career placement.

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Jongeun Rhee

Research Interests: Material culture, Sustainable consumption, Young individuals' consumption behaviors

Full Name: Jongeun Rhee, PhD

Job Title: Professor

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College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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Degree: Ph.D. Design, Housing and Apparel

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: M.S. Design, Housing and Apparel

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

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WEAR runway show May 5 puts spotlight on apparel design

polingj — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 17:20:39 +0000

WEAR runway show May 5 puts spotlight on apparel designpolingj April 26, 2019

Approximately 100 unique pieces will be modeled

��Ͽ�’s annual red carpet of fashion will be rolled out Sunday, May 5.

The WEAR Fashion Show, featuring collections created by apparel design and development majors, will be held at noon and at 4 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center. Admission is $5, at the door, or by bringing a nonperishable food item.

More than 30 students, many of them seniors, will have their designs modeled on the runway. A total of about 100 pieces by seniors and undergraduates will be modeled.

Displays of seniors’ work will be available in the ballrooms of the student center after the show.

“Audience members can expect to be wowed by the creativity and craftsmanship of these designers,” said show director Cambria Sinclair, a junior apparel major from DePere. “Students have put in huge amounts of time and effort into their pieces.”

Show profits are returned to the WEAR Fashion Association, a student organization that runs the show.

A WEAR preview show will be held from 7 to 9 .m. Friday, May 3, in Harvey Hall Theatre. Meet the designers and learn about their collections. The preview is free, although donations for the WEAR Fashion Association will be accepted.

Students often work hundreds of hours on a collection, and they also bear the cost of the clothing and accessories, which can reach several thousand dollars.

Show models include the designers, friends and local residents.

The show theme is Deco, reflecting the art deco style of the 1920s. “Participants did not have to design with this theme in mind, but there will be some fun displays outside of the Great Hall that portray the theme,” Sinclair said.

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Photo

The senior collection designed by Veronica Baillargeon will be part of the WEAR Fashion Show on Sunday, May 5.

Cambria Sinclair

��Ͽ�’s annual red carpet of fashion will be rolled out Sunday, May 5. WEAR Fashion Show

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Apparel designs to hit runway at expanded Wear fashion show

polingj — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:25:01 +0000

Apparel designs to hit runway at expanded Wear fashion showpolingj April 27, 2018

Senior collections in spotlight at student center shows April 26, April 28

What might men’s and women’s fashions look like in the near future?

A free preview of sorts can be seen Thursday, April 26, and Saturday, April 28, at ��Ͽ� during the student Wear Fashion Association annual show. Designs from 18 graduating seniors along with from 20 to 30 undergraduates will be featured in three shows.

“We are the next generation of clothing designers. Come and see what new ideas will be out on the market,” said Taylor Ruppel, of Sheboygan, Wear president.

She is graduating Saturday, May 5, with a degree in apparel design and development.

The shows are at 7 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center. The Thursday show is geared toward ��Ͽ� students and the Saturday shows for the public. All are open to the public and free of charge, thanks to financial support from the Stout Student Association. Doors open 30 minutes before each show.

On Saturday, seniors also will have marketing displays of their collections in the ballrooms of the student center.

A third show was added this year because of previous standing-room-only crowds, which topped 600 people. Each show, featuring a raised catwalk, light show and music, will last about 90 minutes, and awards will be presented after the final show, Ruppel said.

“We try to make the show upbeat and fun,” she said.

The show director is Sarah Steger, a senior from Mukwonago.

The Great Hall will be decorated to match the show’s Dystopian Fairytale theme, but the designs to be modeled are not specifically related to the theme. Ruppel, for example, will be showing her five-piece senior collection called Victorian Magic, which includes three women’s and two men’s pieces.

Seniors like Ruppel have worked throughout the 2017-18 academic year in capstone courses taught by Sheri Marnell and Gindy Neidermyer to design and create their collections, as well as prepare prototypes and fit models for the show.

Ruppel estimates that she has worked about 500 hours on her collection, including through the midwinter break when she scrapped her ideas and started over. “I’m excited to see how it will look on the runway,” she said.

Students also bear most of the cost, ranging from $500 to $3,000 a person, to make their clothing and outfit models with shoes and accessories for the show, she said. Ruppel’s clothing is made from linen, wool and faux fur.

“Everything we’ve learned will come together in this show. There are a lot of details involved in creating clothing,” she said.

Models for the show include some of the designers, their friends, local high school students and others. The models will ascend a catwalk, or runway, after they enter the Great Hall and also walk through the crowd before exiting.

Some collections will be previewed with short videos.

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Photos

Taylor Ruppel

The Victorian Magic collection designed by Taylor Ruppel.

Rebecca Bradshaw’s senior fashion collection includes this dress.

Stout Fashion Show

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Hero Caption: Clothing designed by Kalli Smith, a ��Ͽ� senior, will be modeled in the Wear fashion shows. / Contributed photo

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