(Cazenovia, NY – April 2013) Students in Cazenovia College’s Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising programs have worked diligently all spring semester to put together the Annual Student Fashion Show. The theme this year is Old Hollywood Glamour, which was created by last year’s Fashion Promotion class through a trend forecasting process. The theme will be showcased at a new location, Turning Stone Resort in Verona to celebrate the shows’ 40th Anniversary on Sunday April 21.
Cazenovia College Fashion Shows are primarily run by fashion design and merchandising students, which sets Cazenovia’s program apart from most other undergraduate fashion programs. The Fashion Show Production course consists of three teams: (1) Models and Merchandising, (2) Production, and (3) Promotion. Students on these teams are responsible for producing a successful and widely noted student fashion show every year. The success of this approach is evident in the steadily increasing attendance at each year’s show.
The fashion students also collaborate with students in other majors, such as photography and graphic design, to help create the program and produce the photo shoot. Megan Lawson-Clark, assistant professor of Fashion Studies, says, “The production class students and merchandisers are gaining real world event production experience while they are planning and collaborating with an offsite location for this year’s show.”
“The students get involved and showcase their creative ideas throughout the process of generating the show,” says senior Fashion Merchandising major Emily Erath, of Endicott, N.Y. She continues, “Working as the student director this year has been very rewarding. I have increased leadership skills that will help me in my future career.”
Junior Fashion Designer Molly Sears, of Weedsport says, “Working as a promotion team leader has given me the opportunity to work with a great group of fellow students, as well as submit my original designs and model other students’ garments.”
Andrea Courtwright, of East Greenbush, a senior fashion designer, says, “It’s an honor to be presenting my senior collection at the Turning Stone, and I truly appreciate having such an amazing opportunity to share who I am as a designer. All my hard work will be well worth it when I see it come to life on the runway.”
QVC Associate to Speak at Fashion Show
Cazenovia College alumna Christine Carey of West Chester, Pa. will be the speaker at Cazenovia College’s 40th annual fashion show, Recollection on Sunday April 21 at 4 p.m. at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona.
She is an off-air associate at the home shopping enterprise, QVC, where she is responsible for partnering with vendors and guests implementing product strategy and developing and executing off-air and social media initiatives for QVC’s accessories department.
Carey says, “I am honored to be the guest speaker for this year’s fashion show. I’ve been keeping up with all of the excitement on Facebook, and have seen all of the photos going up of the Fashion Promotion class.”
Carey will share her memories of participating in the fashion shows as a student, and talk about her transition from college to work. “I encourage students to explore every aspect of their internship because you never know where the path may lead,” she says. “At QVC, each assignment makes me excited about the next.”
Carey grew up in Newark Valley where sewing Halloween costumes and holiday dresses were the impetus for her interest in fashion. She earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree in management, specializing in fashion merchandising, in 2010. In addition to her classes, she was a member of the Sigma Alpha Pi Honor Society, an Orientation Advisor and active in Ski Club, Business Club and Fashion Club.
Originally focused on the apparel industry for an internship, she became aware of the broader opportunities in fashion when offered a position in the costume jewelry and watches department at the QVC headquarters. This internship led to a job offer upon graduation where she has progressed from merchandise trainee in designer jewelry to assistant buyer in philosophy and fragrance.