This year has been a truly incredible year for our HSFI X Meatpacking District partnership. This year we showcased this partnership with the HSFI Industry Fashion Show in Gansevoort Plaza (see video) which featured the garments and designs from our talented Senior Fashion Design students.
The partnership with The Meatpacking District started last year when they reached out to HSFI to offer their famous cobblestones in Gansevoort Plaza as a possible location for one of our fashion shows. We immediately said “yes” and began working to ensure this show would be a truly wonderful showcase for all the work our students had done throughout the year. Needless to say, last year's show was a huge success and led to a feature in The New York Times Style section describing the process students went through to create a culminating fashion design project that walked the runway. This year was no different except students from the beginning of the school year knew their hard work and dedication could lead to their garment walking the runway in Gansevoort Plaza. This was a huge motivator and inspired students throughout the year.
This year started with students looking at trends and working to decide on a theme for the fashion show. After many proposals, students voted and agreed upon the theme of ‘Dark Academia’. This theme was inspired by books, shows, movies and the increased interest on social media for all things classic, academic with a slightly dark or gothic twist. Once the fashion show theme was agreed upon, students quickly started working with their classroom community to develop cohesive designs. Once fashion illustrations were complete, students quickly began making their own patterns and drapes to ensure their vision would be captured on their model. Cutting their fabric and working, working with both their Senior Fashion Design teacher and Ms. Rochford, Fashion Show Coordinator, students were able to construct their garments in time to fit their models. This process was intense and filled with many long hours of designing, sewing, and constructing and sometimes taking it all apart to redo the next day.
We are so proud of our students and incredibly grateful for our partnership with The Meatpacking District Bid office for allowing our students to show NYC their incredible talents and ‘the future of fashion’.