Preparations for FMDS’s annual fashion show are fully underway. With four model workshops to train models and endless hours spent on designs, the show this year will feature 35 models and over 20 designers. The theme is Washed Ashore, distinguishing itself from past themes, such as last year’s Into the Wild.
Washed Ashore can be interpreted a variety of ways—that was the intention of show coordinators, Sarah Minnix and Channing Cason. Minnix and Cason are both Fashion Merchandising majors and worked on the committee for the show last year.
“We’re letting the designers to take it however they want,” said Minnix. “But for me and Channing we wanted a beachy bohemian theme. We picked Washed Ashore so it could be broad enough for people to get creative. So it could be more on the dark side or just a fun cute beach outfit.”
So where did Washed Ashore come from? Planning for the show begins almost a year in advance, so Minnix and Cason had time to bounce ideas around. So like most collegiate women, the directors took to Pinterest to find theme ideas.
“There’s been four fashion shows and we wanted something different,” said Cason. “So we just started a Pinterest board and we started pinning things we thought were cute. We started to notice that we were pinning a lot of beachy stuff. So we were like ‘okay, let’s go with beach, that hasn’t been done yet.’”
Maria Dobbs, a senior Multimedia Journalism major, has modeled in the fashion shows for the past three years. For Dobbs, this year stands out from the past and she’s most excited to see how all the different designers interpreted the theme.
“I think this year you can tell that there’s more experience that’s been put in,” said Dobbs. “I think it’s a lot more relaxed, the people who are in charge know what they’re doing so everything’s coming together a lot more quickly.”
As experts on the show, Minnix and Cason are looking forward to seeing the outcome of the preparations.
“I’m honestly just super excited to see it just all be put together and see the designs fully done on the models,” said Cason. “They’ve been working really hard and I can’t wait to just see everyone be amazed that students actually created these clothes.”
Minnix echoed Cason,“I’m excited to see how it turns out. I’m excited to see how it all goes.”
Washed Ashore is on April 13th at 8 pm in Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Click here to buy tickets for the show!
VIP tickets are available for $10 and must be purchased from a FMDS executive member. For updates and more information, RSVP to the Facebook event.