Fashion Fusion was a night full of energy, creativity and achievement for students in the fashion design program at Houston Community College. “Fashion Fusion” is a competition held at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston which showcased the creations of the students who were asked to draw inspiration from the 11 cars and three motorcycles displayed at the museum’s exhibition “Sculpted in Steel: Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles, 1929-1940.” This year marked the second competition.
“Our students’ interpretation were amazing,” said Suzette Brimmer, Director of the Fashion Merchandising Department at HCC. “We met with the museum curators, and we learned about the Art Deco period. The designs the students came up with were amazing.”
The students submitted designs in the categories of: Most Sculptural, Jewelry and Accessories, Most Couture, and Best Use of Unconventional Materials.
Alan Gonzalez, who used 36 yards of white linen-based fabric in his gown, won first place in the Most Sculptural category.
“I have been working so hard to get this dress to work, and to just see it on the runway was incredible. We all want to make our mothers proud. To see my mom teary-eyed in the crowd was the best part.”
Silvia Otaola, winner of the first place in “Jewelry and Accessories” category, found choosing the most appropriate materials challenging.
“I specifically got the inspiration from the grills of the cars. I overlapped the lines that I saw in the cars, and I tried to incorporate chrome. To me, it represented the Art Deco era.”
For the first place in the category of “Best Use of Unconventional Materials,” sterling silver, car parts and plexiglas were the main elements used by Luisa Nadarajah’s in her creation “La Ballerine”.
“I feel like my self expression and my passion are really showing in my designs. I was inspired by the cars and by my inner passion with the gown of the ballerina.”
Designer and fashion design student, Teresa Rangel, won the category of “Most Couture.”
The four 1st place winners will receive one Studio and one Art History course valued at $1,200 at the Glassell School, a Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) membership for a year, and VIP access to special museum events. Additionally, the winning garments will be on display for two weeks at the MFAH.
“This is a fantastic partnership with HCC that integrates art objects on view with university curriculum,” said Caroline Goeser, Chair of the Department of Learning and Interpretation at the MFAH.
“Fashion Fusion” shows how art in the Museum’s galleries is relevant for all students and spurs creativity,“ Goeser added.
Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit www.hccs.edu.
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