Malissa Rogers Tonisha Barnes

A Stitch in Time

Fashion Jobs Look Promising

The Cat Walk

American River College Fashion Department is preparing for their 12th Annual Fashion Gala. The clothing exhibition is set to take place May 3, 2013 at ARC’s Black Box Theater.

The fashion department has recently moved into a brand new building. Viewing the department’s current success it would appear that the department has had a smooth ride. This is far from true.

“They were going to eliminate the fashion program,” says Bonnie Spencer, Fashion Department Chair.

Just a mere 10 years ago, the department was on its way out. With two full time and two part-time instructors and only six fashion courses, the fashion instructors had to fight for their visions and dreams.

Through determination, the group of instructors accom-plished becoming a full-fledged department, which enabled them to offer more to fashion-bound students.

The students that attend ARC for fashion design now have the opportunity to earn 50 certificates, as well as an associate degree in fashion. The department also gained the rights to the new building (at right).

“It went from a one-room sew-ing space to a design studio. Love it, absolutely fabulous.” –Diane Grant-Toscano, ARC Fashion Professor.

By: Malissa Rogers2

Table of Contents

Design/ photography/articles: Editor-in-Chief: Malissa Rogers malissarogers86@yahoo.comEditor-in-Chief: Tonisha Barnes tonibrnz@gmail.comCopy editing: Megan Houchin

Fashion Department Information

page 2

Introductionpage 3

Designer Biographies

page 4

Designer Biographies

page 5

Designer Biographies

page 6

Designer Biographies

page 7

Morning Echoes into the

Nightpage 8

Vintage Designs Inspire

New Era of Modern Clothingpage 10

A Stitch in Timepage 12

Job Outlook Looks Promising for Fashion Designers

page 13

Faculty Fashion Show

page 14

Cat Walk to Street Walk

page 15

The kaleidoscope was created more than 175 years ago and has been a popular

item throughout the world. Its name is derived from the

Greek words “kalos,” “edos,” and “scopeo,” which together means “the beautiful shape to look at.”

The theme of American River College’s 2013 fashion show is Kaleidoscope, so please take a

journey with Current Fashionand look at the beautiful

shapes created by twelve different

designers.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:Jill Wagner, Kel Munger, Megan Houchin, Darlene Brown, Diane Grant-Toscano, Bonnie Spencer, Gail Russel, our sponsors, fashion designers and everyone involved with the Fashion Department.

By: Tonisha Barnes 3

Name: Alexandra KastnerCollection:Mod Me UpHometown:Brazil

Name: Kristen HussCollection: Echoes of the Morning

“I was inspiredby the 60s prints and colors, but with a modern silhouette...”

*Please see page 8 & 9 for full information on designer

Photos by: Tonisha Barnes

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Name:Helen RomeroCollection:La BeauteHometown:El Salvador

Name:Carolyn KeysCollection:Lil* MadamHometown:Oakland

Name: Tiffany HagewoodCollection: Mod-ish

*Please see page 10 & 11 for full information on designer

Name:SvetlanaNalobinaCollection:A step into Summer

“ I was inspired by keeping girls looking like little girls,

but with class...”

“I chose fashion because I love the fact that I can have a raw material in my hands

and can transform it...”

Photos by: Tonisha Barnes

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Name:Saul RamirezCollection:The same boy you’ve always knownHometown:Mexico

Name:Lisbeth ContrerasCollection:Wonderland

Name: Syu MartinCollection:Gods and MonstersHometown:Antioch

“My collection is 1970s inspired with a little nautical feel to it, but also the whole thought of men wearing lace...”

“I was inspired by my original character

Lya; who is a prince who wants to be a princess...”

“I was inspired by the designer

Miu Miu and her

collection this year;

cute, simple and

comfort...”

By: Tonisha Barnes

Photos by: Tonisha Barnes

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Name:Anha TranCollection:Break AwayHometown:Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Name:Dure ArshadCollection:Diamonds in the SkyHometown:Pakistan

Name:Venice OusleyCollection:IncogneetahHometown: Chicago

“My collection is inspired by the

couture evening dresses from 1945

to 1952....”

“I’m really inspired by the designer

Alberta Fretti and

my collection is inspired by

her design...”

“My inspiration is the life of the

cheetah with his bold, yet

camouflaging print...”

*Receive a free gift for booking a party*

Photos by: Tonisha Barnes

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Photos by: Tonisha Barnes8

“I think things are more

interesting when you have a contrast of

emotions ...”

Morning Echoes into the Night

As she strolls along Sacramento’s down-

town K Street, blending into the weekend crowd, you would never guess that Kristen Huss, the petite girl wearing the floral dress with the cream and black scarf and grey button up sweat-er, is the designer and maker of the beautiful couture gown to the left. The 24-year-old Ameri-can River College student is a sales manager for Miosa Bridal located on J Street in downtown Sacramento.

The couture purple gown is part of Huss’ collection “Echoes of Morning,” which is featured in ARC’s Studio 106’s 2013 fashion show, “Kaleidoscope.” It is hard to imagine that the dress didn’t come from Huss’ favorite sketch.

“It wasn’t my absolute favor-ite. I’m not doing my favorite, which is interesting,” says Huss. “You just kind of go where the collection takes you. Now that it’s done, it’s really cool.”

The designer’s inspiration derives from her life experienc-es. A loss of life, the beauty of nature that surrounds her, and her favorite color all influenced her designs.

“I think things are more inter-esting when you have a con-trast of emotions,” says Huss. Although Huss began her mood board and sketchbook well be-fore she was required to start, it took time for her to develop the collection’s name.

“I can’t title anything,” says Huss as she laughs at the thought. “It’s kind of collabora-tion between me and my family.

I took key words and put them all together.”

Admiring the glory of morning and the hidden darkness that surrounds it, having recently lost her mother, the darkness explains itself; “Echoes of Morn-ing” is somewhat of a double entendre.

The multi-talented designer began her journey with art, mu-sic, drawing, painting and play-

ing the piano. Art turned into fashion after the lack of finan-cial opportunities for new artists became apparent to Huss.

When her journey was inter-rupted by “a fork in the path,” she used a decision-making tool from her childhood to find direction.

“I literally flipped a coin. I couldn’t decide,” says Huss. “It’s funny, it landed on music but I ended up choosing the other thing (fashion).”

Having the coin land on music made Huss realize that fashion weighed on her heart a little heavier than playing the piano, which she has been playing since the third grade.

Huss told herself, “You know what, if it flips and I’m sad about going with the other one, which

I kind of was, I think I should go with that, because that’s where my heart is really pulling me toward. It’s kind of a weird psychological thing I did,” says Huss. “But it worked out.”

Once Huss began fashion courses at ARC she discovered “there’s not just one job in fash-ion. You don’t just have to be a fashion designer,” says Huss, “You can be a pattern maker, you can make fabric; there’s all these windows (for opportu-nity).”

Huss already has two de-grees – one in Liberal Arts and one in Social Science – and will earn her third degree after the spring 2013 semester.

Her future career plans include helping the growth of Miosa Bridal, which is owned by Michael Summerfield, Huss’ former Fashion Draping profes-sor. Huss also plans to continue to work on her own designs and build her name in hopes of one day conquering New York.

“Above all I want New York so bad. That’s where I want to be, that’s my dream.”

By: Tonisha Barnes

Name: LeslieAnn DameronMajor: Political science Age: 19

9

Name:Amanda ChristensenOccupation: CashierAge: 20 Photos by: Malissa Rogers10

Her story began at 10 years old, when she learned how

to sew from her grandmother. The techniques echoed in her first creation: A simple, baby blue, cotton shift dress stitched togeth-er by her hands.

Tiffany Hagewood, an Ameri-can River College fashion design major, has created a collection, “Mod-ish,” for American River College’s 2013 fashion show, Kaleidoscope. Her collection is inspired by the mod movement in London, with the intention of capturing the fun, flirty emotions of the 1960s.

“I spent days on Pinterest look-ing at vintage photographs and patterns, envisioning an updated 60s line using lace to create a graphic black and white collection and throwing in a mint teal color in order to keep the line feminine and adding a soft touch at the same time,” Hagewood said.

She enrolled at ARC in 2010, as an undecided major, with the intentions of taking a few prereq-uisite classes and transferring to another college. However, as she became more involved with the fashion department, her plans changed.

“Once I realized how awesome this program was I decided to continue and complete my (as-sociate of arts degree) in fashion design. The teachers are amaz-ing! I have learned so much from Gail (Russel)and Diane (Grant-Toscano). They really make the fashion department at ARC,” Hagewood said.

Hagewood has spent the last thirteen years working within the hospitality industry in Napa Valley and has credited much of her inspiration to the culture of the community. Although she current-ly attends school in Sacramento, she has continued to work in her hometown on the weekends.

“I have a very classic, clean designing style, which I believe is inspired from the years working and living in Napa. I spend many hours – even today – people-watching and becoming inspired by my customers’ outfits and

style,” Hagewood said.Her interest in fashion has fol-

lowed her throughout her life, but the decision to start a career in fashion design spurred from other directions.

“My love for vintage dresses is what led me to start studying fashion design,” Hagewood said. “I originally started studying fash-ion as a way to create and sell vintage inspired designs...”

A passion for finding old, vin-tage dresses turned into a busi-ness opportunity six years ago, when she began selling clothing online through her Etsy, LeBel-leRoseBoutique. LeBelleRose Boutique provides an online collection of “upscale pre-1970s vintage fashion.”

“Vintage pieces come from a time when women took pride in what they wore, and dresses were handmade or tailored for the perfect fit. The sheer beauty and intricate detailing on vintage garments far exceeds what is cur-rently available in modern, ready-to-wear fashion,” Hagewood said. “I love that they give us a peek into a previous time period.”

Her future goals include re-opening her Etsy, LeBelleRose Boutique and offering two collec-tions of vintage-inspired designs per year for the site. In addition to her online business, she envi-sions herself owning her own boutique in five years, where she can sell her vintage designs and feature local or independent designers as well.

Hagewood comes from a long generational line of fashion gu-rus, including her grandmother, who taught her how to sew, and great-grandmother, from whom she recently inherited an antique sewing machine. “Although I never had the chance to meet (my great-grandmother) her, I’ve heard she was quite the design-er!”

She paused for a moment and reflected back on memories of her grandmother and the dress she created when she was a little girl. “I still have that dress; I remember how proud I was of myself. I cherish that memory with my grandma.”

Vintage designs inspire new era of “mod”-ern clothingBy: Malissa Rogers

Name:Heather AdamsMajor: Pre-medAge: 24 11

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Recent college gradu-ates have been bombarded with the reality of Cali-fornia’s job market, which has ranked as one of the worst in the nation. With one of the highest rates of unemployment, the job outlook in the state seems dismal, but a career in fashion design could be promising. The fashion industry is

a global industry, where fashion designers, manu-facturers, merchandisers and retailers have col-laborated to influence the clothing worn by billions. Fashion designers have competed for generations to represent their visions on a grander scale and students who are contem-plating a career in fash-ion should expect fierce competition.“Strong competition for

jobs is expected because of the large number of

people who seek employment as fashion designers and the relatively few posi-tions available,” accord-ing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics “Spotlight on Statistics: Fashion.”Those with formal educa-

tion in fashion design, excellent portfolios and industry experience will have the best job pros-pects. According to CNNmon-

ey.com, fashion designers with a two-year community college associ-ate of arts degree earned more than $63,000 annually in January 2013. American River

College offers a degree in fash-ion design that requires general education classes as well as spe-cific classes targeted towards building the foun-dation for pro-spective design-ers. In addition, each spring the fashion department has a student-run fashion show that showcases each student’s created designs. The theme of ARC’s 2013 fashion show is Kaleido-scope, with twelve partic-ipating designers.“ARC is the school for

me because of the passion that the teach-ers have and the ability that the teachers have to transfer what they know to the students,” Helen Romero, a Kalei-doscope partici-pant and fashion design major at ARC, said. In 2012 there

were more than 16,500 people employed in in-dustries related to fashion de-

sign throughout the United States, with more than 5,000 employed in Cali-fornia. Fashion designers are expected to experience little to no change in the creation of jobs, but the unemployment rate for de-signers has meandered un-der 5 percent. The median annual wage

of fashion designers was $64,530 in May 2010, which means half the workers in

an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,500, and the top 10 percent earned more than $130,890.Earnings in this occu-

pation can vary based on experience, employer, and reputation, but starting salaries in fashion de-sign tend to be very low. Salaried fashion design-ers usually earn higher and more stable incomes than self-employed, free-lance designers. However, a few of the most success-ful self-employed fashion designers earn many times the salary of the highest-paid salaried designers. “I’d be interested in

fashion even if I started at the bottom; I’d find a way to make it work,” Ven-ice Ousley, a Kaleidoscope participant and fashion design major at ARC, said.

Top 3 fashion schools in United States

1. Parson’sSchoolofFashion2. FashionInstituteofDesign

andMerchandising(FIDM)3. SavannahCollegeofArtand

Design

Job outlook seems promising for fashion design majors

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

*Source: Huffington Post

*Source: California Employment Development Department

By: Malissa Rogers

Graphs by: Malissa Rogers

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Faculty Fashion ShowThe twelve designers showcased one of their designs for American River College’s faculty members on April

24, 2013 at the Oak Cafe.

Diane Grant-Toscano: GrantTD@arc.losrios.edu Gail Russell: RusselG@arc.losrios.edu Bonnie Spencer: SpenceB@arc.losrios.edu Adam Karp (Dean):KarpA@arc.losrios.edu

Photos by: Tonisha Barnes

14

Cat Walk to Street Walk

Lacquered floors and concrete boards; what do they share? They are both graced by the same fashion. Some may disagree, but the fashion on the catwalk is the same fashion that is flooding the asphalt rivers of the street.

The catwalk is where high-end designers display their art, while the street is where everyday people use the creations of lower-end design-ers as art to express themselves. For instance, when top designers use feather coats in their catwalk displays, which can cost in the upper thousands, lower-end designers will use the idea in their own collections, but maybe as an accessory, which usually drops the price drastically.

Those who don’t watch runway shows or indulge in fashion maga-zines probably do not realize that catwalk designers set the colors for the season. They also introduce the pattern schemes and textures that trickle down to consumers.

Stores like Target now feature col-lections created by top designers like Prabal Gurung, making some of the runway creations now obtainable by the average person. Now everyone has the possibility of being fashion-forward without having to take a trip to Paris, Milan or New York.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, one of the most anticipated displays of fashion, has just wrapped up its spring shows in New York and the ef-fects are being seen in online stores, local retailers and on the street.

The first of the three main color trends running off the catwalk and into the streets are pastels for soft sultry colors. Nina Ricci was one of

the designers who showcased pas-tels in their catwalk collection. The second color trend hitting the streets is the bold, bright, neon colors, as seen on the runway by designers like Oscar de la Renta. This trend was named “Electric Avenue,” according to Harper’s Bazaar.

Let’s not forget about the neutrals. This spring, the designers decided on a nautical influence, so stripes were the pattern of choice. The trend was named “Between the Lines,” accord-ing to Harper’s Bazaar. However, some designers such as Tommy Hilfiger decided to put a spin on the stripe trend. In his collection, Hilfiger added a white suit with stripes made of polka dots. Yes, polka dots!

Textures are also being seen jump-ing off the catwalk and landing on the pavement. Floral prints – which scream spring – eyelid prints, lace and even leather, are the new feel for spring.

Think you have to buy a whole new wardrobe? Not necessarily. That stone-washed jean jacket and those black (not see through) leggings you have from last season would look great with your new pastel lavender lace top and those new, multi-color, pastel slingback peep-toe pumps you just bought.

That is the thing about fashion on the street: You can mix and match seasons and trends to make it your own. Just remember to accessorize to add the extra personality. This year it is all about stacking bangles. To achieve the look, lacquered bracelets are being utilized.

Fashion is a language; the catwalk and the street are the pathways for learning to speak it.

1. Amrit Sohpal, 19

2. Jordyn Bradley, 19

3. Estefania Sanchez, 21

By: Tonisha Barnes

Photos by: Tonisha Barnes

1. SohpalDress: $$RossCardigan: $$Ross

3. SanchezTop: $$SearsCami: $Sears

2. BradleyDress: $$$TargetBracelets: $Target

Clothing price points: $:0-10 $$:11-20 $$$:21+

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Photos By: Tonisha Barnes