{"id":60756,"date":"2024-04-23T18:14:20","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T22:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=60756"},"modified":"2024-07-08T09:23:28","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T13:23:28","slug":"fashion-expose-celebrates-26-years-of-community-and-creativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/04\/fashion-expose-celebrates-26-years-of-community-and-creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Fashion Expos\u00e9 Celebrates 26 Years of Community and Creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
For student designers, having a collection on the runway honors countless hours spent learning techniques, filling sketchbooks and working with sewing machines. With 2024 marking 125 years of textile education at NC State University, the African American Textile Society<\/a> (AATS) Fashion Expos\u00e9 celebrates its 26-year legacy as the first and longest-running fashion show on campus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, the expos\u00e9 kicked off Pan-Afrikan week, an annual series of events celebrating Black culture around campus. Through the show, 11 student designers from NC State and North Carolina Central University presented collections of at least four pieces in competition for scholarships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black and Belonging<\/a>, a community initiative for middle and high school students to create positive change, and Clara Bea Essentials, an all-natural hair, skin and beauty brand served as this year\u2019s show sponsors. The judges panel consisted of LaCharo Owens, founder of Clara Bea Essentials; Jessica Singleton<\/a>, owner of \u200b\u200bLach\u00e9 Supply & Company and Wilson College teaching assistant professor; and Joshua Wall, adjunct professor of footwear design at NC State\u2019s College of Design. Collections were split into two categories: novice and intermediate and beyond, and were judged on overall creativity, cohesion and craftsmanship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As the organization’s largest event of the year, planning begins during the fall semester when student leaders coordinate logistics, contact judges and advertise designer calls. Ariyana Marshall, a junior studying fashion and textile management <\/a>with a brand management and marketing concentration<\/a>, served as this year’s AATS Fashion Expos\u00e9 chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI look forward to seeing the show every year. I love seeing what designers come up with, being backstage and seeing everything that goes on behind the scenes,\u201d Marshall says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jordan Everett, a junior textile technology<\/a> student in her second year as president of AATS, explained the impact of keeping the show open to surrounding universities and fostering partnerships to educate others about the impact of textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt means a lot, having opportunities within the community,\u201d Everett states. \u201cThis year I was able to partner with a middle school in Durham, showcasing to students what textiles are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the freedom to explore any theme they choose, designers at this year\u2019s expos\u00e9 showcased imaginative collections drawing from nature, classical art, fictional characters and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First place winner in the novice category was Julia Handley, a sophomore studying fashion and textile design (FTD) with a concentration in fashion design<\/a>. Her collection \u201cWhen It Rains\u201d used a variety of blues and flowy silhouettes inspired by the rejuvenating power of rainstorms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Handley created her first runway collection for the expos\u00e9, incorporating hand-sewn pleats and beading to mimic the movement and shape of rain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAATS does an amazing job of giving students the time and the place to show their work. I’m really thankful for them and it’s very impressive,\u201d Handley says.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoing behind the scenes<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Meet the winners<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n