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Years in the Making: Fashion Without Fabric theme pays tribute to generations of international designers

goersab — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:45:31 +0000

Years in the Making: Fashion Without Fabric theme pays tribute to generations of international designersgoersab April 16, 2026

‘Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind’ and ‘A Fragile Wonder’ named winners of sold-out annual event

Abbey Goers

From the fashion houses of Versace, Gucci, and Betsey Johnson to the master artists Michelangelo and da Vinci. From the luxury automobiles of Porsche and Ferrari to game makers Rubik and a battle between the worlds of Sega and Nintendo.

From Dieter Rams’ philosophy of “less, but better” to Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture, and the internationally known animations of Hayao Miyazaki’s anime and Chuck Jones’ Loony Tunes, 3D Design students at ��Ͽ� brought their sculptural costumes to life on the runway in front of a sold-out house during Fashion Without Fabric on April 11.

A fan favorite: 'The Spirit of the Kohaku River,' inspired by designer Hayao Miyazaki, by Riley Johnson, Izzy Russell and Ben Mattson.

This year’s theme, “Years in the Making,” reflected the university’s Year of Design and celebrated the “hellish mesh of hot glue and cardboard” transformed into works of wonder, like a caterpillar emerging as the butterfly, said the evening’s emcee Ainsley Violet, a studio art senior and Student Artist-in-Residence.

The Fashion Without Fabric Hoeft Builders Endowed Scholarship winning team was “Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind,” inspired by designer Brenda Laurel, by Dani Binzcak, Cole Kothbauer and Zoe Watanabe. Each member will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Out of 79 designs created by more than 250 students, the winners of the runway event were:

First place: “A Fragile Wonder,” inspired by designer Eva Zeisel, by Elliott Clark, Quinlan Hartung and Kyra Oertel
Second place: “Metropolitan Muse,” inspired by designer Massimo Vignelli, by Marilena Grado, Margaret Stephenson and Sadie Peissig
Third place: “The Triadic Ballet,” inspired by designer Oskar Schlemmer, by Luci Janzen, Elise Lenhart and Alani Vue.

Third place: 'The Triadic Ballet,' inspired by designer Oskar Schlemmer, by Luci Janzen, Elise Lenhart and Alani Vue.

View Fashion Without Fabric 2026 on YouTube. The Year of Design features events highlighting the innovation, leadership and impact at the heart of Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University.

‘Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind’

Technology meets humanity in this scholarship-winning sculptural fashion design. Like a walking phantasmic dream, Kothbauer, the team’s runway model, was nearly encased in a metallic cape resembling a satellite dish, held upright over his head. He wore a high-low, asymmetrical “shirt” of deep red blended into black, topped by a corset composed of a cross-grid of red, blue and white electrical wires. The vertical wires branched upward to a headdress adorned with two-foot-long bedazzled antennae and trailing tassels.

'Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind' was inspired by video game and interaction designer Brenda Laurel, popular in the 1990s.

Kothbauer then lowered the cape to create a double-layered skirt that swayed like shifting crystalline pendants as he made his way down the runway. Every angle of the design sheened and reflected light.

“Immerse yourself in reality, immerse yourself in fantasy, immerse yourself in technology,” said Violet, the emcee. “However, in a day when the work of artists and designers is under threat by artificial intelligence, this piece takes us back to when such technology was designed with humanist intentions. The blooming transformation is reminiscent of unveiling the layers of technology to find the hardware behind the screen, the software behind the hardware, and finally the human designer behind the software. This piece articulates what it means when humans blend with technology while keeping humanity at the forefront. For technology can never erase the humanity of the creator, but it is up to man to protect the humanity of the user.”

“Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind” was inspired by video game and interaction designer Brenda Laurel. Popular in the 1990s, one of Laurel’s most notable and distinctive innovations was in virtual reality and immersive experiences, which use technology to enhance or simulate real-world concepts in fantastical ways.

Cole Kothbauer, who served as the team's model, Dani Binzcak and Zoe Watanabe accept their scholarship award.

“Her work varied, but amongst all of her designs, she used technology as a tool that benefited society through education and communication, which opposed the growing mindset of technology and virtual media being seen as a distraction or as something redundant to the development of humanity,” said Kothbauer, adding that some of Laurel’s projects also involved space-related themes, such as Purple Moon Media and Colonizing Cyberspace.

Binczak, Kothbauer and Watanabe were inspired by other technology and media sources from the 1990s, particularly vintage technology and space technology. They appreciated the interesting visual appeal and sleek, smooth silver designs of the Sega VR and the International Space Station, which launched in 1998.

And with Fashion Without Fabric being a fashion show, the team also wanted to focus on the experimental designs of modern-day high fashion and studied Thierry Mugler and Selva Huygens and their interpretation of interesting silhouettes and use of rigid materials.

The foundation of their design is built of cardboard to give it a rigid structure and lightweight quality, as seen in the transforming skirt and headpiece. “Underneath the surface though, the skeleton of both pieces was made of manipulated steel broom handles. Aluminum foil, vinyl, and chicken wire were cheap and composed the abundant reflective surface that connected back to the team’s technology theme. We also experimented with the appearance of zip ties on painted foam tubing that reminded us of the vertebrae of a spine or wires,” Kothbauer said.

Second place: 'Metropolitan Muse,' inspired by designer Massimo Vignelli, by Marilena Grado, Margaret Stephenson and Sadie Peissig.

The team thought that reimagining ordinary objects to suit a fashion design and working with abstract forms on a scale large enough to cover the human body was challenging but rewarding. And they enjoyed seeing teams and classmates support each other during the build process and the day of the event.

“This event is a yearly tradition in Menomonie and a staple in Stout’s School of Art & Design. It is easy for artists to be undermined and overlooked today, so being involved in Fashion Without Fabric made us appreciate the chance we get to be in a show that inspires future generations of artists and designers. We want to remind people to continue supporting designers and to listen when an artist is trying to say something,” Kothbauer said.

‘A Fragile Wonder’

A white teapot painted with delicate pink and blue flowers, with a matching cup, gravy boat and spoon emerged as one from behind the curtain and walked down the runway to cheers for its delicate charm. Violet asked the crowd to picture this:

“You walk into the kitchen one morning to find all your ceramics gone, melded into a whimsical little creature which is now parading around without a single care in the world. You hear a faint clinking and clanking as the whimsical wonder wanders about, with a sense of wonder as she experiences the world for the first time. What used to be a teacup is now her head. What once was a gravy boat has become a flower basket, and an assortment of different vases and dishes now form limbs. This little creature entrances you with her odd but charming mannerisms, and her fragile ceramic exterior adorned with an array of painted flowers; you can’t help but be overcome by joy whenever you are around her.”

'A Fragile Wonder' embodies the craftsmanship of Hungarian industrial designer Eva Zeisel.

“A Fragile Wonder” embodies the craftsmanship of Hungarian industrial designer Eva Zeisel, whose 1946 “Museum” dinner service exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York was the MOMA’s first one-woman exhibition.

For their design, Clark, Hartung and Oertel focused on Zeisel’s tableware, emphasizing the natural curves of the human body that Zeisel incorporated in her ceramics. The design’s interior structure is built of cardboard, hot glue and chicken wire. This was covered in layers of printer paper and glossy mod podge to mimic ceramics, painted with blue flowers. The ball on the top of the teacup headpiece is foam, covered in duct tape and painted cobalt blue. The headpiece also features white mesh sheets for visibility.

Kyra Oertel, who served as the team's model, Elliott Clark and Quinlan Hartung accept their first place award.

Oertel, who modeled the sculpture, enjoyed seeing the design finally realized on the day of the event. Hartung enjoyed painting the flower detailing on top of the papier-mâché to contribute to the ceramic finish. Being in the University Theatre’s production of “Something Rotten,” which opened the same weekend, Clark could not attend Fashion Without Fabric with his team. “But when my castmates found out we had won, they surrounded me and celebrated, and it made me feel extremely proud,” Clark said.

Other honorary awards were presented to:

Artistry and Craft: 'The Living Room,' inspired by designer Fritz Haller, by Adrian Nelson, Aaron Tong and Alex Zimmerman.

Innovative Use of Material: 'Tiered Fragments of Wonder,' inspired by Nigel Coates, by Noah Leshok, Carys Gudahl and Kiera Lovett.

Accessories and Design: 'The Orbit Inn Motel,' inspired by Wayne McAllister, by Mia Forrette, Shelby Peterson and Kona Lansing.

Avant Garde Fashion: 'Beloved Buttons and Pleats, Please,' inspired by Issey Miyake, by Loganie Chalte, Treanna Fizer and Aaralyn Gardner

Working the Crowd: 'Dizzy Dolly,' inspired by Chuck Jones, by Jamie Pearson, Julia Robles and Isabel Galloy.

Honorable Mention: 'Court Jester of the Cosmos,' inspired by Keita Takahashi, by Lucy Carlson, Eligh Hermon and Tobi Fisher.

Additional Spring Showcase events

Saturday, May 2, 6 p.m.: Stout Fashion Show, showcasing innovative capstone collections from fashion design and development seniors.
Tuesday, May 5: Research Day, celebrating the research and creative work of students, faculty, and staff from all fields.
Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m.: Stout Game Expo (SGX), western Wisconsin’s largest game developer exhibition.
Friday, May 8, 6 p.m.: School of Art & Design Senior Show, celebrating more than 120 graduating seniors’ creative works.
Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10: Unspooled Film & Animation Festival, dedicated to showcasing the very best in independent filmmaking.
Wednesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 28: Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs, is a collaborative group of community organizations bringing in international mural artists.

��Ͽ�’s School of Art & Design 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; fashion design and development; and video production, and an M.F.A. in design. ��Ͽ� also has a new program in game and media studies.

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‘Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind’ and ‘A Fragile Wonder’ named winners of sold-out annual event Fashion Without Fabric 2026, Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind

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Fashion Without Fabric

��Ͽ� Polytechnic and the School of Art & Design invite you one of the Midwest's premier unconventional fashion runway shows, Fashion Without Fabric.

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Hero Caption: Fashion Without Fabric's scholarship winner “Immerse Your Eyes, Preserve Your Mind,” inspired by designer Brenda Laurel, by Dani Binzcak, Cole Kothbauer and Zoe Watanabe.

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‘Welcome to Phenomonie!’: Students embody extraordinary ideas in Fashion Without Fabric runway show

giffeyt — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:52:19 +0000

‘Welcome to Phenomonie!’: Students embody extraordinary ideas in Fashion Without Fabric runway showgiffeyt April 16, 2025

Sold-out fashion show brings natural and human-made phenomena to life

Tom Giffey

From the depths of outer space to the dimmest part of the ocean, from the realm of the atom to the frontiers of the human psyche, ��Ͽ� had a universe full of imaginative inspirations for the annual Fashion Without Fabric runway show on Saturday, April 12.

The sold-out fashion extravaganza featured wearable, sculptured costumes created by 120 teams composed of 258 students from 3D design classes. They were built with cardboard, foam, plastic, paper, metal and other materials – everything but fabric. In keeping with the show’s theme, “Welcome to Phenomonie!,” each team was randomly assigned a phenomenon – natural or human-made – as a creative launching point.

"Choreography of the Deep," inspired by murmuration and schooling, was created by Loren Grimes and Grace Johnson, who modeled the costume.

To the delight of the crowd packed into the Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center, students modeled elaborate costumes that brought to life phenomena ranging from photosynthesis and pollution to black holes and ball lightning. Students spun on the catwalk in the guise of creepy anglerfish, an electron-encircled model of static electricity, a pyramid that opened to reveal constellations, and even a spoon-bending brain that embodied the concept of telekinesis.

Watch Fashion Without Fabric 2025 on YouTube

At the conclusion of the competitive evening, $1,000 scholarships were awarded to Astrid Scharff and Celia Fuhrman for their creation “Nature’s Recourse.” The pair, both of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, were inspired by the Forest of Knives, a region of Madagascar notable for its knife-like limestone spires. They created a helmeted warrior armed with a shield and spiked flail, its back bearing a jagged model of the Forest of Knives’ topography.

Scholarship winners, which were decided by a faculty committee, were named for the tenth time this year. Teams have the option to apply for the scholarship, and they are evaluated from start to finish. They submit a process book that covers their ideas, research, concept statement, ideation drawings, inspirations, building stages and more. After the faculty committee judges the process books, 15 finalists are announced. These teams are then reviewed by the committee the day of the show for craft, concept, innovative use of materials, styling, accessories and finally their presentation and performance, said Professor Robert Atwell of ��Ͽ�’s School of Art and Design, who serves as adviser to the show.

"Striving to Thrive," inspired by phototropism, by Ellie Gold and Megan Witt.

Other winners are chosen by a panel of three judges. Those winners – listed by costume title and theme – included:

1st: “Choreography of the Deep,” murmuration/schooling, by Loren Grimes, graphic design and interactive media, Franklin; and Grace Johnson, fashion design and development, Strum.
2nd: “The Faces of Those You Know,” Fregoli Delusion, by Jude Sell, game design and development, Brule; and Zach Burns, animation and digital media, Anoka, Minnesota.
3rd: “Striving to Thrive,” phototropism, by Ellie Gold, studio art, Ettrick; and Megan Witt, studio art, Port Washington.

"The Great Celestial Pyramid," inspired by the construction of the Great Pyramids in Egypt, by Kelli Dockry and Erin Whitten. The pyramid, above, opened to reveal constellations.

Honorable mentions were:

Artistry and Craft: “The Great Celestial Pyramid,” construction of the Great Pyramids of Egypt, by Kelli Dockry, industrial and product design, Minneapolis; and Erin Whitten, fashion design and development, Hudson.
Innovative Use of Materials: “Sea-ing the Light,” ocean twilight zone, by Kelly Jones, graphic design and interactive media, Iola; and Sierra Lauer, animation and digital media, Sussex.
Accessories and Details: “Le monarque du cuivre,” oxidation, by Aubrey Guttormson, art education, Solon Springs; and Signe Johnson, fashion design and development, Solon Springs.
Avant Garde Fashion: “The Fool,” cognitive dissonance, by Mila Goebel, studio art, Savage, Minnesota; and Avery Hageman, animation and digital media, Chanhassen, Minnesota.

The show was judged by Masako Onodera, a professor of visual and performing arts; Arthur Kneeland, a senior lecturer in biology; and Andrew Bogard, a graphic designer at the Walker Center for the Arts in Minneapolis, who holds a BFA in graphic design and interactive media from ��Ͽ� and is a previous Fashion Without Fabric scholarship winner and coordinator.

Celia Fuhrman stalks down the runway in the "Nature's Recourse" costume.

‘Sentient spirit of earth’

Scharff and Fuhrman, the scholarship winners, put in countless hours over the course of several weeks to create their warrior, which they described as a “sentient spirit of earth itself, sent to protect the land from human settlement.” They built the costume largely out of reused materials, including a thrifted road sign, a found tire, and aluminum cans, as well as cardboard, sticks, moss, and foam.

“We made lots of sketches and took inspiration from the forest itself, as well as worked to craft a narrative that would excite us and the audience,” said Fuhrman, a game design major, who also wore the costume for the runway show. “We both stayed very open-minded and valued experimentation because it is a lot easier to have more ideas to narrow down later than not enough.”

Scharff, left, and Fuhrman shared pieces of the costume as they were announced as scholarship winners.

Once they settled on a design, there was plenty of troubleshooting to be done. For example, the rock-bedecked shoulder piece proved challenging to attach to Fuhrman’s body. The piece, which was molded to the shape of the wearer’s shoulder with packing paper and duct tape, was ultimately held in place by ropes covered with foam which were tied around the waist and through the repurposed tire.

“We replaced ideas often and utilized our school’s resources as much as possible. Our professors and process lab staff were one of our most valuable resources as they helped problem solve and keep us safe whilst using equipment,” said Scharff, an illustration major.

The pair said they were shocked to be chosen as scholarship winners. “Being called for the scholarship was so exhilarating,” Fuhrman said. “I felt just a rush of joy and pride for myself and Astrid. To put so much time and effort into something and for it to have a tangible reward is very cathartic.”

Grace Johnson, left, and Loren Grimes were the creators of the first-place winner, "Choreography of the Deep."

Nothing fishy about it

Grimes and Johnson may have won first prize for their sparkling aquatic creation, “Choreography of the Deep,” but Grimes acknowledges she was first taken aback in early March when they were randomly assigned their topic, “murmuration/schooling.” But a quick online search revealed that the terms refer to the swarming behavior of birds and fish, respectively, and the ideas began to flow.

“I did a lot of research on what schooling is, specifically strength in numbers with predators and studying the ways that bait balls are formed with predators,” Grimes said. A “bait ball” is a tight protective school of fish, and it provided the inspiration for the shape and design of a hoop skirt formed of colorful, sparkling origami fish, which rotated around Johnson’s waist on a flexible shower curtain track. The skirt took a long time to perfect, Grimes said, and an early version made with wire, netting and pool noodles was too flimsy and had to be scrapped.

“We took inspiration from other artists working with kinetic fashion and pulled color and silhouette styles from the shape and colors of bait balls,” Johnson explained. Meanwhile, Johnson’s torso was encircled with a whale shark made of sanded foam held together by cardboard and papier-mâché which she painted to resemble the undersea giant.

"Sea-ing the Light," inspired by the ocean twilight zone, created by Kelly Jones and Sierra Lauer.

“So many hours went into the ideation, planning, construction, and detail of this piece,” Johnson explained. “Many late nights and hours in-between other classes were dedicated to the creation.”

“I would describe it as a wearable sculpture,” Grimes added. “While we have a skirt and top, they aren’t constructed like your everyday clothes. Our goal with the design was to transform the materials and her figure to become a bait ball.”

Grimes credits the positivity of her teammate, a last-minute loan of some Velcro from another team, and the assistance of senior lecturer Joshua Wilichowski for helping them achieve first place. “He was a great supporter throughout the whole process, and it at least helped me embrace FWOF and become even more determined to make something amazing,” Grimes said.

Fashion Without Fabric was held during ��Ͽ�’s Destination Weekend, which served as a launching point for the Spring Showcase, a series of student-centered events in April and May. Fashion Without Fabric isn’t the only large-scale runway show on campus this spring: High fashion will hit the runway at the annual WEAR Fashion Show at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, in the Great Hall of Memorial Student Center. Tickets are available online.

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Sold-out fashion show brings natural and human-made phenomena to life "Choreography of the Deep" was the first-place winner in the Fashion Without Fabric show

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Join us for weeks of events that celebrate ��Ͽ�'s polytechnic research, creativity and innovation.

Hero Caption: "Forest of Knives," created by Astrid Scharff and Celia Fuhrman, and modeled by Fuhrman, won the scholarship prize at the 2025 Fashion Without Fabric show.

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

goersab — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 14:51:46 +0000

Runway to imagination: ��Ͽ�’s sold-out Fashion Without Fabric unfolds fears with theme of Philias and Phobiasgoersab April 10, 2024

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

Abbey Goers

In front of an audience of more than 750 attendees, 256 ��Ͽ� 3D Design first-year students proved the complex dichotomy of passion versus dread – where one’s deepest fear might be another’s greatest joy.

At the crowd-favorite Fashion Without Fabric runway show, 117 student design teams presented their sculptured costume designs on April 6, representing this year’s theme of Philias and Phobias.

View Fashion Without Fabric

Designs spanned the landscape of nightmares and obsessions – from love of the color yellow to fear of purple, to the destructive and life-bringing forces of fire and water. They showed how little things, like birds, butterflies, moths, stinging insects and, of course, spiders, can have the biggest impact.

'Don't Judge a Bird by Its Feathers,' ornithophobia/philia, by Makayla Durango, Jolene Larrabee and Leah Schrader / ��Ͽ�

Through their depiction of fears, students shared a prevailing message of hope – to embrace imperfection and stride boldly forward into the unknown, even facing death itself with grace and dignity.

Fashion Without Fabric was held during ��Ͽ�’s Destination Weekend, heading the Spring Showcase, a gathering of student-centered events in April and May.

Stout Spring Showcase

Join us for weeks of events that celebrate ��Ͽ�'s polytechnic research, creativity and innovation.

Other fashion-focused events include WEAR Fashion Show, featuring fashion design and development students’ clothing collections. WEAR will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. Tickets are available online.

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.

'To Love or to Hide,' photophobia/philia, by Mack Champion, Mara Glover and Becca Lindell / ��Ͽ�

Bringing their word to life

Students began working on their costume designs about one month ago, first drawing a single word and definition for its philia/phobia from a hat. They then brought their word to life, researching, designing and building their costumes before practicing their presentations and perfecting their characters.

As student models walked, creeped and stalked down the runway to the cheers of the crowd, judges critiqued their designs in three areas – concept, creativity and craft. This year’s judges were Chancellor Katherine Frank; Steve Marsh, senior writer, Mpls. St. Paul Magazine; and Molly Uravitch, assistant professor of art, Augustana University.

'Do Not Fear the Rest,' coimetrophobia, by Keenan Chalmers, Aidan Mooney and Haylee Mottl / ��Ͽ�

In collaboration with industry partners, alumni and community members, the School of Art and Design awarded $1,000 scholarships to the winners of the highly competitive show.

This year’s scholarship winners were Erika Rivolta, interior design, Comerio, Italy; and Manuela von Zitzewitz, studio art, Wayzata, Minn., for their creation “Love of Books,” bibliophobia/philia.

The scholarship prize is decided by a faculty committee. Teams have the option to apply and are evaluated from start to finish. They submit a process book that covers their ideas, research, concept statement, ideation drawings, inspirations, the building stages and more. The committee reviews applicants’ craft, concept, innovative use of materials, styling, accessories and presentation.

First place went to 'The Prime Divine,' triskaidekaphobia, by Klaire Johnson and Emma Walstra / ��Ͽ�

Other winners were:

1st: “The Prime Divine,” triskaidekaphobia, by Klaire Johnson, interior design, Wabasha, Minn.; and Emma Walstra, interior design, Waupun
2nd: “Cat Scratch Fever,” ailurophobia, by Gabe Cervantes, animation and digital media, Minneapolis; and Fig Palacios-Hadlock, animation and digital media, Minneapolis
3rd: “Fear the Peal,” bananaphilia, by Riley Burgraff, graphic design and interactive media, Menomonie; and Declan Kincaid, animation and digital media, Baraboo

'Beyond White: Perfection’s Veil,' leukophobia, by Lucas Moreno-Martinez III and Allison Seanor / ��Ͽ�

Honorable mentions were:

Innovative Use of Materials: “The Plague,” mysophobia, by Xander Riedmann, game design and development-art, Menomonie; and Griffin Treankler, industrial and product design, Marathon
Artistry and Craft: “Beyond White: Perfection’s Veil,” leukophobia, by Lucas Moreno-Martinez III, fashion and retail, Vesper; and Allison Seanor, art education, Wausau
Accessories and Details: “A Deep Dive,” ostraconophobia/philia, by Mia Gunderson, graphic design and interactive media, Eau Claire; and Taylor Roe, game design and development-art, Mount Hope
Avant Garde Fashion: “The Inner Bouquet,” anthophilia, by Ashlyn Jensen, animation and digital media, Hastings, Minn.; and Izabel Sutlief, animation and digital media, Northfield, Minn.

'Golden Hysteria,' xanthophilia, by Hannah Blust and Anna Tupy / ��Ͽ�

A journey into the imagination

When design #72 entered the runway and the emcee announced the “Love of Books,” bibliophobia/philia, by Rivolta and von Zitzewitz, a young child turned to her mother and said, “You have that.”

Indeed, many audience members’ heads nodded in appreciation as Rivolta modeled the team’s design. A crown of miniature books adorned her head and red wings spread out behind her, ready to lift the reader into a journey of the imagination. She wore a collar of scrolls and a corset shaped like a rounded bookcase. Her skirt, made of folded newspaper, gave the impression of a clockface – there is never enough time to read. Even her high-heeled shoes were adorned with origami.

“This project has been a great stimulus for us to go beyond our limits. There have been many inspirations, and we have done a lot of research. The greatest inspiration came from the books themselves,” Rivolta and von Zitzewitz said.

“We found ourselves reflecting on what books represent in our society and how important it is to keep the love for books alive. What we wanted to express with our work is just how much beauty and sophistication there is in books, how much boundless imagination and history they contain.”

Rivolta and von Zitzewitz's design portrays the beauty, sophistication, history and boundless imagination contained in books / ��Ͽ�

In their design, Rivolta and von Zitzewitz used several types of paper, including newspaper, tissue paper, cardboard and paper from actual books. They used tape, hot glue and metal wires to support the costume.

“Ours has been a journey full of different emotions. We put in so much effort and exploited our strengths, but we continued to work without giving up and getting to an incredible final result,” they said. “We are grateful for this adventure lived together. We have enjoyed every single moment. Our collaboration proved to be successful, and from this, a strong friendship was born.”

Rivolta’s favorite book is “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee; and von Zitzewitz’s is “Looking for Alaska” by John Green.

“We are proud of ourselves, and we are happy that our costume thrilled the audience and the jury. It is an honor to have been able to win the scholarship,” they said. “It is a great help since we both come from other countries. When we arrived in the U.S., we were not fully aware of the high cost of education. Moving here has cost us a lot of expenses and cultural changes.”

Number 13 wins first place

Numbers were another common theme through the event – fear of the numbers four, eight, 17, and of course, the unlucky 13.

Like many of their peers, first place winners Johnson and Walstra flipped fear on its head. In their research of triskaidekaphobia, they found that the number 13 also represents rebirth, transformation and divine energy.

Johnson and Walstra's design included a halo-like disc that transformed into phoenix wings / ��Ͽ�

“We decided to convey those meanings through an outfit reminiscent of a phoenix, mixed with a divine being. Every aspect of ‘The Prime Divine’ had some kind of purpose. For example, the backpiece doubled as transformable wings and a gold circle, which is often seen behind divine beings in paintings,” Johnson and Walstra said.

They incorporated clusters of 13 throughout the design – in groups of skewers, rhinestones and beads. Other materials used were cardboard, duct tape, decorative ornaments, feathers, wrapping paper, flexible foam sheets, spray paint and miscellaneous items.

“We were always looking for ways to incorporate 13 into our outfit somehow, instead of aimlessly decorating it. We really wanted our craftsmanship and attention to detail to be shown through this intricate design,” they said.

“It was definitely fun seeing the other groups get creative with the materials they used and understand how their designs came to be. It was amazing to see everyone’s final products. It was extremely rewarding to have our hard work recognized not only by the judges but also by our peers.”

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‘Love of Books’ named scholarship winner; ‘The Prime Divine’ proves number 13 can be lucky Fashion Without Fabric, Love of Books

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Hero Caption: This year’s scholarship winners were Erika Rivolta and Manuela von Zitzewitz for their creation “Love of Books,” bibliophobia/philia. / ��Ͽ�

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Fashion Without Fabric inspires sold out audience with ‘wearable sculptures’

goersab — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 16:04:11 +0000

Fashion Without Fabric inspires sold out audience with ‘wearable sculptures’goersab April 19, 2022

After two-year hiatus, popular event returns in a reimagined setting

Abbey Goers

The beauty of Mother Nature, oceans in distress, the destructive force of weather systems, the surprising gentleness of natural decay and danger of societal decay, bees, birds and robotics.

During University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Family Weekend, 225 students in the 3D Design course displayed elaborate and intriguing wearable sculptures for a sold-out show of more than 850 attendees on April 9.

Fashion Without Fabric returned to the Memorial Student Center after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic. This year’s theme, “Reimagining the Matrix: Fashion Responses to Systems and Structures,” also reimagined the structure of the popular event.

Sophie Smith and Ryan Thiede's "Goddess of the Moon" / ��Ͽ�

Instead of the audience seated along a single runway, FWOF was showcased throughout the upper level of MSC, including the Great Hall, the Terrace and ballrooms.

The open format allowed audience members to interact with the 110 teams of models and students, giving time to engage and enjoy each design.

Like a living, breathing wax museum, a luna moth and stag beetle spread their wings, a clock was wound, a cowgirl danced and “Lady Decay,” by Eleanor Berg and Sadie Sroga, stood stoically still among the crowd. Berg, who modeled “Lady Decay,” slowly revealed a small plastic cockroach from a hidden treasure chest and gifted the insect to Rachel, a young audience member in awe.

“The students are inspiring,” Rachel’s parent said at the end of the evening. “My daughter asked, ‘Can we come to this show every year? I'm going to go to Stout when I grow up so I can be in this show!’”

The cockroach now has a prized place on the child’s bookshelf.

Berg is a game design and development-art student from Bismarck, N.D., and Sroga is an industrial design student from St. Paul.

Fashion Without Fabric award winners

Award winners were announced at the end of the night:

FWOF Scholarship, $1,000 award: “Her Royal Highness Queen Beetrice” by Claire Ivens, graphic design and interactive media, La Crosse; and Megan McLaughlin, graphic design and interactive media, Green Bay
1st Place, $100: “Iridescence” by Evan Pope, graphic design and interactive media, Brillion; and Aden Weisser, game design and development-art, Milwaukee

Mattie Mihalko, Niahm Sass and Lauren Thomas' "Helios Divine" / ��Ͽ�

2nd Place, $75: “Helios Divine” by Mattie Mihalko, game design and development-art, Appleton; Niamh Sass, interior design, St. Paul; and Lauren Thomas, graphic design and interactive media, Cottage Grove, Wis.
3rd Place, $50: “Gearhead” by Zach Adler, game design and development-art, Middleton; Michael McQuillen, game design and development-art, Marshfield; and Nicholas Paris, game design and development-art, Clearwater, Fla.
Crowd Favorite, $50: “Helios Divine” by Mihalko, Sass and Thomas
Artistry and Craft, $25 gift card donated by Mike’s Art and Design: “Mother Nature’s Messenger” by Destinee Schenck, graphic design and interactive media, Janesville
Avant Garde Fashion Prize, $25 gift card donated by Mike’s Art and Design: “Shining Opus” by Cara Hicks, graphic design and interactive media, Hugo, Minn.; and Olivia Miller, graphic design and interactive media, Iron Ridge
Innovative Use of Materials, $25 gift card donated by Mike’s Art and Design: “Ring of Hummers” by Rachael Dorsey, industrial design, De Pere; and Jenna Zobrak, fashion and retail, Mosinee
Accessories and Styling, $25 gift card donated by Mike’s Art and Design: “Rollercoaster” by Bailey Gilbertson, industrial design, Elk Mound; and Julia McIntire, interior design, Clear Lake.

A wearable sculpture ‘fit for a queen’

When thinking about this year’s theme of systems and structures, scholarship winners Ivens and McLaughlin immediately thought of bees – the physical structure of the hive, their social structure and hierarchy and their roles within the colony, they said.

In the process of designing “Her Royal Highness Queen Beetrice,” they looked to Elizabethan-era royal dresses, finding similarities between the queenly gowns and the insect silhouette to bring their wearable sculpture to life.

Claire Ivens and Megan McLaughlin's “Her Royal Highness Queen Beetrice” / ��Ͽ�

“We wanted a presence that demanded attention as a queen would,” Ivens and McLaughlin said.

“We wanted to take style inspired from the 1500s. We looked to Elizabethan clothing, known for the big drum skirt that is similar to a bee’s anatomy and decorated the skirt with flowery-looking tissue paper, depicting the bee’s habitat, which then blends into the back of the skirt covered to look like a queen bee’s stripes.

“We employed chicken wire and brown crinkled tissue paper to create a top fit for a queen. Our piece engages the space all around it through the large, volumetric skirt, wire wings that shoot out of the side of the dress and a large collar.”

Ivens and McLaughlin enjoyed being able to engage with the audience throughout the night. “It was such a cool opportunity to be able to speak to so many different people about our piece,” said Ivens, who served as the team’s model. “This was the biggest critique that we’ve ever participated in. It was so cool to hear so much positive feedback and support.”

“I also really enjoyed seeing everyone else's interpretations. It was so cool to see the projects finished after seeing them for the past couple weeks in progress,” McLaughlin added.

Their $1,000 FWOF scholarship will help Ivens and McLaughlin pay for tuition, and in turn, will help them put more money toward art supplies for their classes and labs.

Bringing their pieces together

Architecture in the human world and in the natural world were common themes throughout the night, both in their elegance and beauty and in their destruction.

Erica Gustafson and Matt Miller's "Fossil Feuds" / ��Ͽ�

Erica Gustafson, an interior design student from Eau Claire, and Matt Miller, an industrial design student from West Union, Iowa, created “Fossil Feuds,” modeled by Gustafson. An iridescent wash of plastic and purple represented the carnage of an oil spill over a dying coral reef, with a collar of shells and a crown of coins encircling Gustafson’s head, as a constructed nautilus fossil hung from her neck like a shield.

“For ‘Fossil Feuds,’ our inspiration was the pollution, greed and war that is caused by fossil fuels. It's a nonrenewable resource, and we need to find an alternative soon,” they said.

“FWOF gives people the chance to express themselves and think outside the box,” Gustafson added. “There are many obstacles to overcome during the construction process as well, which I think really works our critical thinking skills.”

Julia Huetteman and Megan McDowell agreed. They thought the design process and event were a wonderful experiential learning experience, offering trial and error and pushing students out of their comfort zone.

Julia Huetteman and Megan McDowell's "Tera" / ��Ͽ�

“Being innovative and flexible are two important skills in FWOF. It resulted in such beautiful pieces of art,” said McDowell, an animation and digital media major from Albertville, Minn.

“This assignment taught me to fail and come back with even better ideas to make pieces come together. My favorite part of the design process was watching everything come together in the end. When you’re spending so much time on something, it’s really amazing to see your work pay off,” added Huetteman, an interior design major from St. Michael, Minn.

Their design, “Tera,” was inspired by Japanese temples, or teras, and was modeled by McDowell. They were intrigued by the buildings’ elegant designs and intricate details.

“This concept is shown through every aspect of our design,” they said. “The hat alone is a Japanese temple. The shoulder and waist pieces resemble the roofs of the temples. The skirt of the dress also resembles the architecture due to its triangular shape and the way it flares at the bottom.”

��Ͽ�’s School of Art and Design Senior Show is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 6, throughout the Applied Arts building and Micheels Hall. Graduating seniors will be displaying and exhibiting their art, designs and ideas. This event is open to the public.

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The School of Art and Design, in collaboration with industry partners and alumni, awards $1,000 scholarships.

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Hero Caption: “Her Royal Highness Queen Beetrice” by Claire Ivens and Megan McLaughlin, 2022 FWOF Scholarship winners.

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Play, Fashion Without Fabric highlight Family Weekend activities

polingj — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 16:33:55 +0000

Play, Fashion Without Fabric highlight Family Weekend activitiespolingj April 5, 2019

Nearly 20 events, most of them free, scheduled on campus April 12-13

Theater, fashion, art, film, music, comedy — all that and more are part of ��Ͽ�’s annual Family Weekend scheduled Friday and Saturday, April 12-13.

The weekend is designed to bring students’ families to campus. Most of the nearly 20 events and activities are free, and all are open to the public.

More than 2,600 people attended 2018 Family Weekend events, according to the university's Involvement Center, which coordinates the weekend.

Families planning to attend should register in advance at the website or when they arrive at the check-in and registration table in the Memorial Student Center. Registration is free.

Highlights of the weekend include:

Three performances of the University Theatre play “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” in historic Harvey Hall Theatre. Tickets are $15.
The annual Fashion Without Fabric show on Saturday night. Tickets typically sell out. The runway show features about 100 unique designs — made of anything but traditional fabric — by nearly 200 School of Art and Design students.
A student drawing exhibition Friday night at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts.
Comedian and mind reader Eric Dittelman on Friday night.
A fun run/walk on Saturday morning.
Live music Saturday afternoon outside the Memorial Student Center.

Other events and activities include Foodie Bingo, a family photo booth, trivia contest, 4:51 Short Film Festival and Exhibition, Stout Secrets tour, Mabel Tainter tour, bean bag tournament and Monster Drawing Rally.

The ��Ͽ� Escape Room is sold out for the weekend.

###

Photos

Charlie Peavey models “Tranquility” during the 2018 Fashion Without Fabric show at ��Ͽ�.

��Ͽ� student Sydney Turner visited the photo booth with her parents, Teresa and Scott, during 2018 Family Weekend.

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