LAKEWOOD, Ohio–From Paris to Milan, celebs get their styles from all over the world
But, many red-carpet looks are born in the most unlikely of places–right here in Lakewood.
“This is my collection that I’m working on,” said Auriana Riase, student at Virginia Marti College of Art and Design.
“It’s actually called split persona,” she said, pointing at the black-and-white colored ensemble. “It’s just a mix of the girl and the hard edge together.”
Riase is just about to graduate. She is among 40 students studying fashion design at the school, which houses nearly 250 students in all.
The school has had its share of success stories, especially in the fashion world.
Designer Ali Rahimi, a Virginia Marti graduate, has made a big name on the red carpet. You can often spot Glee actress Jane Lynch wearing his designs.
“It’s great. It’s encouraging,” Riase said. “That gives me more of a push to know that I can really do something or be somewhere with my designs.”
The students are currently crafting their finest outfits for fashion show, hoping to get noticed.
“It’s great being around the young, creative energy, and just to see what they can come up with,” said Judy Boryczka, fashion design department director. “Give them a few, material and some trims and a little bit of time. It’s amazing to see the different things each student can do.”
The upcoming show is a part fo the Greenlife Gala, to benefit an eco-friendly affair to benefit The Green Dream, a junior achievement company.
From making a dress entirely out of ties to one made of wood, this fashion showcase is all about recycling. Nothing is short of the imagination.
“This is actually made from, she told me 55, Mountain Dew cans,” Boryczka said, showcasing recent designs. “Here’s one made from newspapers. There’s one made from an old flour sack.”
Creativity could be seen at any corner the fabric-and-lace-filled basement.
As one student was hammering nuts and bolts–literally–to a corset top, another one was sewing beer and soda caps to her skirt suit.
“I have 136 left to go. There’s probably a couple hundred on here,” said student Sara Scarcella, who has also been hammering away at her project. “My thumbs are getting a beating.”
It’s one school filled with forward-thinking fashion from top designers in the making.
“I’ve always had a knack for fashion. I love to shop, so I knew that this is what I wanted to do,” Riase said. “You get a lot out of the school. It’s like a family.”
For ticket information about the Greenlife Gala, click here.
For more information about Virginia Marti College of Art and Design, click here.