Phoenix College Student Designs Featured on the Runway

Phoenix College Fashion Design student will feature their designs at The Heart of Fashion Runway Show presented by the Mahnah Club on Thursday, October 15 at the Tempe Center for the Arts located at 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. The fashion show is a fundraising event to benefit the Child Crisis Center East Valley, Inc., Save the Family Foundation of Arizona, the Mahnah Scholarship Fund and other local charities.

Much like what is seen on Bravo’s Project Runway, producers of the Mahnah Club fashion show gave $50 to a group of PC fashion design students to hit a local thrift store, buy used clothes and recreate the garments with their own, unique style to feature them at the fashion show.

For many of the participating students, it will be the first time featuring their designs in a fashion show; however, with the advanced design, sewing and pattern making skills learned at PC, the students were more than prepared to take part in the real-world project presented by Mahhan Club.

“The day my classmates went to the thrift store, I wasn’t able to make it. I sent my best friend to go in my place because she knows my style,” said PC fashion design student Paulette Vega, “I was in shock when she brought me a big purple prom dress with floral print and a two-piece suite, but I had to work with what I had.”

Vega used the inside material of the prom dress to create a cocktail dress. The two-piece suit was used for the top portion of her design.

“I’m happy with the final results, and I’m excited to be part of such a worthy cause while doing what I love to do most—design,” said Vega.

Another design featured at the fashion show will be PC fashion design student Meghan O'Connell’s cocktail dress with an empire waist, a black and white bodice swirl design with a sheer turquoise pleated overlay, and a feathered pillbox hat with a matching clutch.

“I love making feminine clothes with an edge that makes them stand out. I turned old, used clothes into something a lot more fashionable and something any girl would want to wear,” said O’Connell. “I’m excited to be a part of this show and to see something I designed walk down a runway and not just be a sketch on a piece of paper.”

At the fashion show, all participating PC fashion design students will be asked to go on stage next to the models wearing their design.

(List of all students’ name to be included)

“I feel honored that our students were asked by the Mahnah Club to participate in this wonderful event,” said Phillips. “It provides an opportunity for students and instructors to give back to the community and definitely reflects positively on the program and our students.”

Phillips and Galina Mihaleva, Phoenix College fashion design adjunct instructor and Arizona State Univerisy Department of Dance costume designer, have worked closely with the students giving them guidance and advice throughout the project.

To learn more about the Phoenix College Fashion Design Program, visit
www.phoenixcollege.edu.

What:
Phoenix College Fashion Design students feature their designs at The Heart of Fashion Runway presented by the Mahnah Club.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by a runway show headlined by Carine’s Boutique of Scottsdale.

When:
Thursday, October 15, 2009
4:30 p.m.

Where:
Tempe Center for the Arts
700 W. Rio Salado Parkway

Tickets:
Tickets are available at http://www.tempe.gov/TCA/ or by calling 480.350.2822. Prices range from $45 to $65.


About the Manhan Club
The Manhan Club is non-profit women's service organization that provides contributions to the support local charities such as the Child Crisis Center, a private, non-profit agency, that provides a temporary home for children up to eleven years of age who are threatened with abuse, neglect or abandonment, and Save the Family Foundation, non-profit organization with a mission to provide housing, case management and supportive services to homeless families with children in the East Valley. The Manhan Club also provides scholarships for college or post secondary studies.