The Wake

For the most part, overnighters and stressing out for finals came to an end for one group of ‘U’ seniors Valentine’s Day night with the close of the “10 La Femme” fashion show.

“Every year, the seniors majoring in fashion design must have one public exhibition,” said fashion design senior Cassandra Willms.

Each student displays her senior line, a group of outfits that portray a similar theme throughout the many pieces of clothing.

As usual, this year’s senior class decided to plan a fashion show that incorporated all of the seniors’ pieces, rather than seeking out venues to display their work in.

Unlike most years, however, “10 La Femme” was put on by a more motivated-than-average group of women.

“Our class was overly ambitious,” said Kaela Runck, fashion design senior. “The usual fashion design program calls for seniors to come in to school in the fall and start researching and putting together ideas for our show in the spring.”

But as a group, Runck’s class opted to spend the summer in an independent study course so they could begin their work earlier in the fall semester.

“I actually began my plans for my senior line almost a year ago when I found this vintage fabric. I didn’t want to get too ahead of myself though, so I waited until our independent study class,” Runck said. “I sat on the material, but all spring and summer I saw a lot of tailored women’s suits, and that inspired the decision to make my line.”

Runck said the show was intended to show each student designer’s own strengths and personal style.

“We have had so many projects that have had restraints. This show is about defining who we are as designers, how we are creatively driven.”

Putting on the senior show was a lot more than just hours spent behind a sewing machine.

“We [seniors] were responsible for planning, putting on and paying for the whole show,” Runck said.

Even though it required more work, Runck thought that working on the show as a class was a better learning experience than if each designer had found another show in which to exhibit her work.

Although they did get help from the Twin Cities Style Association, a U-sponsored organization for fashion design and retail merchandising students, Runck said, “The student designers had a hard time letting go. This was our baby. Maybe we took on more than we needed to, but we wanted to do a lot of the show.”

Each of the 10 seniors worked on different committees, such as front stage, back stage, fundraising and promotions.

Working so closely together has made all the seniors better designers, said Runck.

“Of course, sometimes, we are at each other’s throats, like sisters,” she said. “But it is like we are sisters that are not in competition, that we can all feed off each other and thrive off each others’ ideas. I am lucky that I can work with people that are so creative in so many different ways.”

With the show as their major project for their senior year, the fashion design majors will have a lot of time to spend preparing their portfolios until graduation.

“We will spend time discussing our career directions,” said Runck. “No one wants to graduate and flounder around looking for a job. We are really lucky we have this time.”

As for the culmination of their college experiences, their senior lines, the fashion design students have mixed feelings.

“I know some of the designers have said ‘I am so sick of this line, I am never doing anything like this again!’” said Runck.

Runck is not one of those designers. “I really love what I did. I know it defines me as a designer, and I know I can take this experience on with me in my career.”