Harding’s fashion merchandising program will presenting “Walk This Way,” a fashion show, on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m., in Cone Chapel.
Putting on a fashion show has been a dream for fashion merchandising students for some time now. Senior Christa Smith said she has wanted the program to present a show since her freshman year. However, it was her experiences this summer that really sparked her interest further.
“I worked with Little Rock Fashion Week this summer, and after seeing that, it got me excited about fashion in general,” Smith said. “After thinking about it over the summer, I got to thinking, ‘I really want us to do this.'”
Smith said that the first day of school she discussed the possibility of a show with her adviser, instructor of fashion Rebecca Boaz. Smith said Boaz referred her to some other students who also had interest in a fashion show and from there the fashion show has been a student-led venture.
Proceeds will go toward amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, (ALS) research in honor of Nancy Chandler, mother of Harding junior Anna Grace Chandler. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The original intent for the fashion show was to bring recognition to the fashion merchandising program, but senior Whitney Chambers said that as early as the first planning meeting, those involved knew they wanted a cause as well.
“It’s better for a cause,” Chambers said. “I think if you’re going to do anything you should do it for a reason that’s going to honor God.”
The fashion merchandising program falls within the family and consumer sciences department and includes a mix of business and fashion classes as part of the curriculum. Students from the program have received internships from companies like O Magazine and Nordstrom’s.
“There have been very successful people,” Smith said. “Companies actually send our teachers information saying, ‘We want to interview some people.’ So they know about our program.”
The fashion show itself will be presented as two minishows. The first will include clothing from local stores in Searcy, such as Maurice’s, Blackbird and Salon Bliss Boutique. Each store will show three to four outfits. The second half of the program will showcase clothing by fashion merchandising students. In the advanced apparel class, students create their own fashion line and actually construct fashion pieces. These clothes will be modeled during the show.
Freshmen and sophomores who have not yet taken advanced apparel will also have a part in the show. These students will present a “Dress for Less” section, in which they present outfits they have created on a budget. These outfits will be created solely from clothes found in local consignment shops. All clothes in the show will be modeled by Harding students.
This is the first fashion show that the program has presented. Tickets for the show will be $5 and will be sold in the student center. For more information, follow their Twitter account @hufashionshow.
