Tee Time, Fashion Inc.’s fashion show fundraiser for Woodland Forest Elementary Outdoor Classroom Initiative, showcased designs from approximately 30 apparel design students on Tuesday.
Their creations were made from entirely recycled materials. Many designers used old T-shirts as their basic design, adorning them with all sorts of sustainable goods such as newspapers, CDs, cupcake liners and coffee filters.
Allison Mills, a senior majoring in apparel design created a full-length bridal gown made entirely of white T-shirts.
“I’ve always been really inspired by any type of bridal-wear,” Mills said. “I knew it would be a bigger challenge to create a bridal dress out of straight T-shirts instead of what you would normally use for a bridal gown.”
The audience was kept on their toes with up-beat music playing as the models strut down the runway.
Briana Carver, a sophomore majoring in interior design, was impressed by the ideas the designers created.
“It was amazing that they could sew [the dresses] together and make them look awesome — make them look like they weren’t random materials,” Carver said.
Their favorite designers and runway trends, as well as everyday things like graffiti and concrete, inspired the designers’ one-of-a-kind creations.
“I decided to do a repeated peplum skirt, kind of like Missy Elliot’s I Can’t Stand the Rain video with the trash bags,” Jeneshia Byrd Stewart, a sophomore majoring in apparel design, said. “I used coffee filters, Women’s Wear Daily newspapers, Hefty trash bags and t-shirts.”
Jasmine Teniel Miller, a junior majoring in accounting and theater, modeled one of Stewart’s pieces. She also modeled for the health awareness fashion show earlier in the semester.
“It was nice to be free and express yourself through clothing and have the audience watch you and get applauded,” Miller said. “I love stuff like this. I love the crowds. I love the runway. I love walking. I love all of this.”
Mandi Faulk, a senior majoring in apparel design, has been making garments since she was in fourth grade and just won Birmingham Fashion Week earlier this year. This is her second fashion show for which she has designed.
“I wanted to make a nautical look; [with] it being t-shirt material, it makes you think flowy,” Faulk said. “The necklace is a planter holder and it looks like a real necklace, so I want to sport it on a regular basis.”
Kelly Pruce, a junior majoring in apparel design, designed and modeled her garments for the show. Bright spring colors and balloons inspired her colorful two-piece outfit.
“The midriff tops were a big trend on the runways, so that’s where I got that from,” Pruce said.
“I did the monopoly board dress,” Lindsay Cornelson, vice president of Fashion Inc., said. “It was neat seeing someone wear something you played as a child.”
Cornelson was happy with how smoothly the fashion show went, as well as the number of attendees.
