Sew What?! fashion program grads present “As Time Goes By”
“Art Starts and Sew What?! graduates are proud to present their “As Time Goes By” collection Sunday September 8th at the Yorkdale Community Arts Centre. The event is an open house from 1pm-4pm and features a fashion show at 2pm.
Sew What?! is a free six-week summer intensive fashion program for youth aged 16-21 from across Toronto who would not normally have access to this opportunity. The program took 12 fashion-inspired participants through a hands-on exploration of all things fashion from field trips, interactive lectures and discussions to hands-on design and sewing workshops led by industry professionals. By the end of the immersive six weeks, the youth had developed sewing skills and learned how to turn their ideas into wearable garments all the while making important connections in the industry and developing a sense of where their skills might be best utilized in the fashion world. Expertise and advice was shared by such fashion luminaries as designer Adrian Wu,Pearl Miller of La Chance boutique and Kingi Carpenter, Peach Berzerk mastermind. Sew What’s?!combination of hands-on experience and industry connections are a first step for participants to eventually find meaningful internships and employment in the field.
“Sew What?! is the first step in helping me to realize my dream of becoming a fashion designer” says 21 year old Sew What?! grad Marissa Minto.”The program has given me the confidence to broaden my horizons beyond my visual arts background and I look forward to leveraging this experience in my future fashion career.”
The fashion show explores the theme “Travelling through fashion history”. Each participant had to select two different fashion eras as inspiration for the creation of a daywear garment and an evening wear garment. The results are both an education in fashion history and an inspiring glimpse at how young people interpret styles from decades past.
“I loved experiencing the creativity that flowed from these youths each and every day of the program” says Program Manager Carleen Robinson. “I can’t wait for people to witness the talent I’ve seen blossom over the past 6 weeks!”
Art Starts is charitable organization that has been bringing professional artists and underserved communities together in community-building arts programs for over 20 years. They are the winners of Toronto Arts Foundation’s 2013 Arts for Youth Award. Sew What?! was conceived in response to increasing interest from youth in developing careers in the fashion industry. With their central operations housed in a 1200 square ft studio in the Lower Level of Yorkdale Mall, Art Starts is in an inspiring location to bring together youth interested in pursuing fashion-focused careers.
Sew What?! was generously funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
WHO: Art Starts & Sew What?! participants
WHAT: Sew What?! Fashion Show and Open House
WHEN: Sunday September 8th, 2013. 1-4pm. Fashion show at 2pm.
WHERE: Art Starts, Yorkdale Community Art Centre, in the Lower Level of Yorkdale Mall (access via elevators beside Home Outfitters escalators)
For more information, please visit www.artstarts.net or contact Art Starts Program Director Myra Leibu at 416-770-3011 or myra@artstarts.net”
-submitted by Elvana Xhakollari, Art Starts
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