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Apparel Technologies students from 911������ are to displaying their designs in the Go Red For Women Campaign’s annual fashion show hosted by the American Heart Association, celebrating American Heart Month and raising awareness of heart disease in women.

The fashion show is a popular component of the Go Red Health Expo on Saturday Feb. 8 at the Mall of America from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Fashion shows are scheduled at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. 

“It’s a great cause,” said Apparel Technologies student Abby McLean. “(The fashion show) is a special event for this department. It’s the one event outside of the College where our department is well represented.”

This is McLean’s first year participating in the show and the aspiring designer wanted to also bring awareness to an aspect of heart health that seemingly goes undetected. 

“As it relates to heart health, I wanted to focus on the fact that a glass of red wine a day is supposed to be helpful for your heart,” said McLean. “I feel like it is less known how damaging alcohol abuse is for heart health.” McLean highlighted that in her design by dipping the fabric in red wine. 

McLean mentioned knowing people in recovery, specifically women and wanted to bring attention to this aspect of heart disease. The Apparel Technologies student also described her approach to design and apparel as practical. 

“I’m inspired by practical things,” said McLean. “These days I am inspired by other zero-waste pattern makers. I am working on a zero-waste pattern that basically fits all the pattern pieces together in an interlocking puzzle so there aren’t scraps left over.”

The Zero Waste International Alliance defines zero-waste as “the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse,and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”  Mclean said normally 15% of fabric scraps are thrown in the trash. 

A Decade of Participation

This year marks 911������’s 10th year participating in the fashion show. The American Heart Association reached out to 911������, University of Minnesota’s College of Design, and St. Catherine’s University for fashion student participation.

“It is a fantastic experience for our students, said Apparel Technologies Instructor Mark Caligiuri. “It gets them involved in the community and good cause. It is a wonderful, practical experience for them. They’ll have to go on from our program into the real world where it is all about marketing your designs, participating in fashion shows, and dealing with deadlines.” 

Caligiuri also mentioned students have the opportunity to cast a model and facilitate a fitting for their design. Before working with the American Heart Association, 911������’s fashion students worked with the D.I.V.A. foundation, the non-profit organization started by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph focusing on raising awareness for HIV/AIDS. Caligiuri said they had worked with D.I.V.A. for about eight years. 

To participate in the fashion shows, 911������’s fashion students submit their designs in a design contest hosted by the Apparel Technologies program. The contest takes place during fall semester and is open to 2nd semester students and up.  Caligiuri said 12 students are chosen to participate in the show. 

The fashion show is also a competition among the participating schools. “Last year we won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd competing against the University of Minnesota and St. Kate’s,” said Caligiuri.