Antonea Eason, a textiles and fashion junior, lays out sleeve from a piece to mark certain areas of the clothing item.
Now that the University of Texas’ annual fashion show, Synthesis, has passed, here’s a quick behind the scenes look at how the special event was put together.
Story by Brandon Pegram and Jacqueline Briddell
Photos by Brittany Mendez
Wednesday evening, the textile and apparel department presented some of their best work from upper class design students. Tasked with three categories, the designers had to create bridal and activewear pieces, while also presenting a collection of three cohesive looks.
Textiles and apparel Senior Marc Reilly poses for a picture.
Originating in the early ‘70s the UT fashion week has grown to prominence in and around the state of Texas. According to Ockhee Bego, a fashion and textile professor and the show’s director, the show not only attracts the 5,000 local audience members in the stands of the Frank Erwin Center, but over 25 million international viewers who stream the show after it’s live recording each year. “We are the only school in the world that televises the show live so we reach the largest audience level,” Bego says. “[The students] have been thinking about for four years how they want their final collection to be. And now, they are so excited to present their work.”
Preparation for the show begins as soon as the previous year’s show ends. Completely student produced, the show is facilitated by faculty while the students handle everything that goes into the show, ranging from seating arrangements to deciding the theme for that specific year. Bego emphasizes that the show’s production is completely voluntary and requires the commitment and the team player attitude of all students involved. “It’s a complete collaboration of designers and other UT students. They are business students, communication students, art students, architecture students. Everybody is involved,” Bego says.
Christine Minah Lee, a textiles and apparel senior, sews down the edges of a fabric.
A large undertaking of the UT fashion show is a showcase of personal works from student designers in the department. One of the 22 students whose designs are showcased in the fashion show is Kate Wade, a textiles and fashion senior. She has worked on her largely monochromatic, historical themed collection for roughly two years now and says that the designs featured in the show perfectly correlate with her inspirations for personal style. “I’m naturally just drawn to costume and historical pieces. I feel like I live in the past more than in the present,” Wade says.
Similarly, third year Antonea Eason has also structured her pieces in alliance with her personal style. Her obsession with accentuating and exaggerating the female form has lead her to include tapered and form fitting pieces to her collection. “There’s a lot of volume in the sleeves and the hips,” Eason says. “I just love the female form. I think it’s so sexy and it shouldn’t be hidden.”
Run like a professional show, the UT fashion show is a yearly treasure on campus. If you weren’t able to catch this year’s show definitely set your calendar for next year’s as it’s bound to be just as spectacular, if not more, than its predecessors.
Textiles and fashion Senior Kate wade stands next to one of her pieces that is historically inspired.
