RADAR 10 - Fashion
Publication Date: April 14, 2004
Maryland Institute College of Art Eleventh Annual Fashion Show
The Hall@Brown Center
1301 Mount Royal Avenue
410.225.2300
April 24

Baltimore City Community College Twenty-fifth Annual Fashion Show: Style 2K4
Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center
847 North Howard Street
443.956.4604
April 25

How does a MICA fashion show differ from a regular one? "We're artists before we're designers here," explains one of this year's directors, senior June Monteiro. "Our goal is not to have a sold piece, it's to have an entertaining or aesthetically pleasing piece."

Thirteen student designers are hard at work knitting, sewing and fabricating for a show that will include a goddess-themed line, robotic-looking designs guided by German punk rock, and a beadwork bathing suit that defies convention. Monteiro's designs will deal with dualities, while co-organizer Audrey Collins will premiere styles drawn from traditional hunting costumes, the show's first foray into menswear (with the exception of a ruffly number that drew cheers last year). Local stores will also present fashions. Although attending school events can feel like visiting a high school pep rally as an adult, past shows indicate that you'll leave remembering why the "Micans" are here.

Fiber Arts Chair Annet Couwenberg sees fashion as an increasingly important part of Fiber Arts, a discipline that has also struggled for fine-arts acceptance: "[Although] sometimes we say 'Oh, it's great to be on the fringe because it gives us more freedom'...I want the students to have a lot of knowledge about theory, contemporary painting, sculpture. I want them to know about the history too, and try to place themselves within the art world." Monteiro concedes that not everyone in an art school environment "gets" the fashion show, but adds, "If your concept is there, the acceptance of the work as art will follow."

More likely to cite Carolina Herrera than Dave Hickey as inspiration, the Apparel Design students at BCCC promise a show that's "classy, chic, elegant, urban." La'Shawn Brown, fashion director for the show, has worked in New York during Fashion Week for two years and as an intern for Baltimore Magazine . Brown, along with fashion merchandising coordinator and head designer for the show John Roberts, exudes style and professionalism as she discusses the event after night class.

Both students are in B.J. Schaen-Cazer's Fashion Entrepreneurship class, completing their Associate of Arts degrees. Schaen-Cazer, although tired after a long day explaining business plans and target markets, speaks proudly of one student, Eric "Tyler" Wells, who before even beginning the class, created forty-five garments, and staged his own fashion show at the Eubie Blake Center. "First class. It was first class. It was so New York."

Roberts talks about creating a hip, casual, plus-size line for a retailer like The Gap. "They wonder why their men's stuff doesn't sell. We are six foot four. We weigh more than those small European sizes." He gets inspiration for his designs from "the city, from music I hear with a nice beat." Pointing to an energetic design he says, "This was Toni Braxton's 'Hit the Freeway.' At night when I'm going to sleep I see models walking, I see sketches and I plan the show." Both students talk about the importance of researching opportunities and being self-motivated: "You have to earn it. You have to own it."

Miriam DesHarnai