The Introduction to Fashion Design One class took advantage of the change from summer to fall by going into nature to find leaves, flowers and other pieces to inspire their next designs, which were made Oct. 16 in the class.

Fashion design teacher Alison Siniawski said she had been wanting to do this for a long time, because she is a huge fan of the outdoors and often goes there to find inspiration for designs.

    “A few years back my fashion class visited the Iris Van Herpen fashion exhibit and discovered that all of her designs were inspired by nature,” Siniawski said. “I then decided a great way to engage a classroom of fashion students — let’s go for a walk and collect our inspirations.”

    Senior Makenzie Cima said the nature walk gave further creativity that can be used in the class.

    “It was a nice change and gave us the ability to be in control of our designs outside of the classroom,” Cima said.

    Siniawski said she hopes that students saw the true free beauty that nature brings to the fashion world through color schemes, texture, form, lines and patterns. They can then turn these concepts into a fashion garment.  

    Students were able to find some small flowers and weeds, along with leaves that are beginning to change color.

    “The designs in our class are being created from the actual pieces found in nature- from what I am seeing students are creating skirts, dresses, shoes, belts, hats, blouses and more,” Siniawski said.

     She added that designs have been ripping a page from Mother Nature’s book for as long as people have been wearing clothes.

    “Using nature as an inspiration is a fun way to get back to the roots of the earth,” Siniawski said.

    The projects will be illustrative of the fall season.

Alaina Goldberg

Managing Editor