There’s only a few days left for the 40th LBCC fashion show, “Urban Ecosystem: City of Synergy,” an experience that only comes every two years.
Student designers have submitted pieces that have their own stories of creation garnered by inspiration, and messages that will be in full effect at the show.
The show will take place this Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium on the Liberal Arts Campus, with doors opening at 3:30 p.m.
Student, professional and community models gathered for two days last week, spending hours trying on and adjusting the final touches to the selected designs for the show.
Marcelina Rivera, co-manager for the model selection team, places design entries on a rack at the model fitting sessions for LBCC’s 40th Fashion Show, “Urban Ecosystem: City Synergy,” which will take place on Saturday. (Diosa Hippolyta)
“This year’s theme is Urban Ecosystem: City of Synergy and it is a celebration of Long Beach, all the cultures, the diversity of all of the people, the community and local businesses,” said Chantel Bryant, the director of the fashion program at LBCC and a fashion professor, last Thursday at a model fitting session.
Hundreds of student designer entries need to be matched with models that have auditioned for the opportunity that only comes every two years, making it a very unique experience to add to one’s resume for both professional and university applications.
For Ethan Bartee, a theater and biology double major, modeling in this show is a first time experience that began when he received an email from a professor offering the opportunity.
Bartee described what goes on inside his head while he is modeling.
“I might take some inspiration from these outfits,” Bartee said, “I feel like I need to look good, like, I’m making their (student designers’) clothes look the best they can.”
Special fabrics and patterns included bold colors, sharp edges and detailed hand beading that must have taken days to sew. Ethan Bartee, right, a double major in theater and biology, gets fitted by Marcelina Rivera, left, co-manager for the model selection team, at a model fitting session held before the fashion show, which will take place on Saturday. (Diosa Hippolyta)
These pieces were all hanging on racks at the fitting sessions and were ready to come alive on a human body.
The whole concept of the show is developed and designed by the students in the fashion program courses. Being completely student run, allows for students to get real life experience.
Roles are delegated and responsibilities are assigned to all areas of the show production process. This includes a model selection manager who oversees the two day fitting event and all of the details behind the scenes.
Chantel Bryant, director of the fashion program at LBCC and a professor, makes adjustments to the design worn by student model Evy Velasquez at a model fitting session, held before the fashion show, which will take place on Saturday. (Diosa Hippolyta)
Marcelina Rivera, the co-manager for the model selection team and a fashion design major, was very present and was actively managing the process with a hands-on style, demonstrating the leadership needed to make the show a success.
She was adjusting hems, draping garments and fine tuning design details that were still in progress during the two day process.
Rivera advocated for the student designers, welcoming people to come to the one-of-a-kind show.
“I want people to come to our show next week because it represents the student designers’ mind and what they bring to the table. Each look has its own personal personality, like, you can look at each one of these (design entries) and you can already tell the story of what it gives,” Rivera said.
Alicia Kurimska, right, a community model, tries on a few suggested gown designs by the fashion team to see which ones fit her best and should model in the show, during a model fitting session before the show. Models who weren’t students and were part of the local community were invited to participate in the fashion show. (Diosa Hippolyta)
Some student designers had the opportunity to fit their own designs on a professional model like student designer Sarahi Vargas-Avila, who is the art director for the show.
Vargas-Avila has two entries, with one being inspired by her sibling and taking the name “Sis Dress.”
This project was completely hand made, requiring Vargas-Avila to make her own pattern.
The white gown has red threads sewn into the bodice, symbolizing the red string theory, the belief that people are destined to be in each others life and are soulmates.
She feels this is true for her connection with her sister.
“I feel so proud of myself. It took me about a month to make this,” Vargas-Avila said.
Designer student Sarahi Vargas-Avila, left, cinches Christina Gonzales, right, a professional model, into her original piece called the “Sis Dress” during a model fitting event held before the fashion show, which will take place on Saturday. (Diosa Hippolyta)
Crystal Gonzales is the professional model who was selected to wear Vargas-Avila’s “Sis Dress.” This upcoming show will be her second one at LBCC, and she shared her excitement and reaction to this year’s designs that range from swimwear to evening wear.
“These are up and coming designers and they are so talented. Some of them can put their stuff in stores today,” said Gonzales as she prepared to change into Vargas-Avila’s dress.
A dress rehearsal is scheduled for Friday, leaving spare hours to make any last minute adjustments before the show.
The fashion show will be on Saturday starting at 4 p.m. and the doors will open at 3:30 p.m. for general admission and at 2:30 p.m. for V.I.P. tickets..
V.I.P. tickets give people access to the first few rows of the auditorium, but are currently sold out.
General admission is $15 presale, and can be bought at this link. At the door GA is $20. High school students with their ID can get tickets for $10 at the door.
There will also be a Pop-Up Market before the show starts at 2:30 p.m. where people can buy clothes that are donated by fashion students. All proceeds will go back to the fashion club.
Shirts with a design to represent this year’s fashion show, will also be sold at the Pop-Up Market. The design is a secret for now.
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