THREAD VCUQATAR ANNUAL FASHION SHOW 14–16 APRIL 2015
THE PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION GUEST DESIGNER: STÉPHANE ROLLAND CHILDREN’S WEAR COLLECTION A collection of semi-formal children’s wear designed by sophomores. A beautiful calm color palette created by combining denim, lace, embroidery, hand painting, floral patterns, polka dots and stripes.
JUNIOR COLLECTIONS Sportswear collections were inspired by playful or fascinating themes, such as jellyfish, wild movement, contemporary architecture and weathered Omani surfaces. Contradictory combinations include Pakistani truck art and concept cars, ancient Egyptian and Celtic knots, European armor, insect shells and Roman architecture with chains.
SENIOR COLLECTIONS The senior thesis collection is an eclectic mix of day to evening looks that reflect the individual aesthetic of each student. The collections consist of a minimum of six looks that reinforce the individual vision, creativity and styles of the young designers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AWARDS PRESENTATION (THURSDAY EVENING ONLY)
SANDRA WILKINS CHAIR, FASHION DESIGN
THREAD At the age of seven, I watched my grandmother Elizabeth create by hand some of the most beautiful things. It intrigued me when I witnessed her calm and joy of simply using thread and needle to create lovely dresses and amazing linens for our home. I realized early that this is what I wanted to do: sew, connect, join, embellish with thread. The needle and the wheel are two of the world’s oldest machines. The wheel gets us where we want to go and the needle prepares us for what we’ll be wearing when we arrive. The thread is the binding source that holds it all together. It is the primary component of weaving, knitting, crochet and surface embroidery and essential to creating a cohesive collection. Thread also binds together our community of student designers. No matter how competitive we are, we are still a family. It is simply about personal taste, following trends and interpretation to give everyone something relevant. Together, we discuss, collaborate and seek advice regarding our perception of what is new and cutting edge. Thread is the perfect theme for the show as it celebrates who we are and where we are going. Enjoy!
ISSA ABDULSALAM ABU ISSA CHAIRMAN AND CEO, SALAM INTERNATIONAL
When a fashion related event is looked forward to in a busy community and people await its staging, that anticipation and excitement signifies the strength of the event’s past success and future promise. It is wonderful to see that the VCUQatar Fashion Show has firmly secured a place of expectation and interest in Qatar. Congratulations on bringing out yet another edition of the show this year! The future of the fashion industry has been something that the Salam Group has always been passionate about. Our six decade long history as a leader in the luxury and fashion sector, proves how dedicated we are to pursue beauty and creativity. In this pursuit, we have also recognized and respected the strength and vision of the next generation. That is why our association with leading universities such as VCUQatar has flourished and has spanned a number of years. Salam Stores as you know, has always stepped forward to foster and support youthful talent. Therefore, it is a matter of personal pride and pleasure for me to see the youth of today enter the world of fashion and design at such an active and engaged level. By opening the doors of The Gate yet again, to host the VCUQatar Fashion Show and by offering you the support of Salam Stores, the Salam Group has demonstrated the strength and commitment of our partnership with you. We believe in you! And we are happy to have this opportunity to encourage you. We fully expect to see tomorrow’s fashion leaders emerge from among you. Our desire is to see you develop your talent and excel in it. Market your talent and keep growing in it. I congratulate all those who will participate in this edition of the VCUQatar Fashion Show, and applaud your creativity and energy. I also commend the faculty and staff of VCUQatar for developing your skills and bringing you out on this platform. Looking to the future, I’d like to wish you every success. As a leader in the local fashion arena we look forward to welcoming you to the market as successful artisans of fashion, soon. Till then, you can count on our support, all the way!
STÉPHANE ROLLAND GUEST DESIGNER
After studying fashion at Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, Stéphane Rolland worked at Balenciaga where he became creative director within a year. He then took his talents to Jean-Louis Scherrer, becoming the youngest French couturier on Avenue Montaigne in Paris. His collaboration with Scherrer lasted ten years. Over the years, fired by his passion for the cinema and theatre, Stéphane also worked as a costume designer. He was nominated for the prestigious Molière awards in 2006 and 2007, and became an official partner of the Cannes film festival for five years. At the age of 40, Stéphane began to define a new luxury concept that was both dynamic and exclusive. In July 2007, he presented his first eponymous haute couture collection at his salons at 10 Avenue George V in Paris. Stéphane is a member of the exclusive circle of only twelve true haute couture houses as defined by the Chambre de Commerce et D’Industrie de Paris. Stéphane has dressed international stars such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga as well as royal family members and diplomats for the most important moments of their careers. He opened his first boutique in May 2013 in the Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi.
SENIOR COLLECTION
TAMADER ALSULTAN
BLOOMS Up until now, my life has been structured. Ever since teachers in elementary school started asking me about my career path, I knew I wanted to become an artist who creates beautiful art. As I grew up, I developed an affinity for fashion. I was able to see the art, passion, and limitlessness of fashion. Consequently, I finalized my decision to be a part of the VCUQatar community to study fashion design; I planned my future and I knew exactly where I was going. Here I am, a senior in fashion design at VCUQatar, an “almost” graduate. This is the furthest I could plan for myself and this is where my plan stops. Finally, as I am now free of “the plan,” I have a myriad of options lying on the table for me … I can do anything; I can be anything. My senior collection is a metaphorical representation of my journey. In my four years at VCUQatar I have been planting this seed, and growing it, until it finally blossomed, and now it is spring, my spring. This is the spring where I give myself the chance to bloom and explore.
KINDA MORSHED
ELIZABETH.HAUNTED Film and theater productions are not just an act of entertainment to me. I view them as other realms, created by the most fertile imaginative minds, into which we escape from the dullness of our own world. I have always favored period and fantasy movies. Period movies in my world are time capsules that take us back to simpler times free from the imprisoning bars of technology that surround us nowadays. Back to times when people really appreciated beauty and gave true value to the meaning of life. Fantasy movies move us from our reality to places where all is possible and you get to walk along flying fairies in enchanted gardens amongst magical creatures, greeted by the roses at your side. “Evil Queens are princesses that were never saved.” When I read this quote it completely twisted the sanctity of fairytales for me, carrying me to the other side of the river where I became an admirer of Evil Queens, and with that, my muse has always been the strong, powerful woman, one who doesn’t need but is rather needed. Women, in my opinion are God’s most beautiful creation, and so my silhouette is the delicate female body, with a little bit of magic dust, executed with vintage techniques from classic days. Those were the ingredients that harmoniously worked in creating my collection: Elizabeth.Haunted.
MALIA BENNETT HENRY
MANIC DEPRESSION Growing up, I found that the best way I could express myself was through art. Four years at VCUQatar made me realize that I am a designer of activism—that my forte is to bring my designs into contact with personal messages of struggle. I have come to know who I am. For my final collection, I feel it is necessary to follow through with this theme. This collection discusses a topic that society continues to keep hidden—depression. It is a very common disorder riddled with societal miscomprehension and personal guilt and self-judgment. It depicts the different stages of depression—how it slowly consumes a person’s very being—from the inner physical pain to the point when nothingness prevails. The expressive Jackson Pollack-like print was created using the monoprinting press—a collaboration with two students from the Painting and Printmaking department. Each print is unique and slowly progresses to angrier and more manic lines. Using knit meant that it would be constricting but still comfortable. It is based on the idea that while depression is unbearable, the sufferer becomes so used to dealing with it that it becomes a crutch, a sort of safety blanket.
AISHA AL-SUWAIDI
FASHION AS ART Expressing myself in the form of fashion, to me, is the utmost idea of “Art.” Being a shy introvert my whole life, I found myself constantly struggling with ways of expressing my ideas and passions. Fashion, I found, rapidly became an outlet where I can express myself and show my true passion. Inspired by spring’s bloom, this collection was created with pastel colors that reflect lightness and innocence. The fabrics and colors chosen are the essence of spring with the floral beading and light colored polka dots. The unique pieces presented in this collection reflect my passion for 1960s fashion with a modern twist. The ‘classic with modern twist’ characteristic reflects my personality as a designer. In a more general outlook, fashion has eternally been one of the most effective forms of expression. Throughout the years, we have been able to interpret history through different cultures’ fashion. From the gothic influence in the Romantic era, to the Victorian era, and more recently the Hollywood Glamour era up to the present, fashion has been able to tell its own story throughout history. The immense influence fashion has as a form of expression has always been my inspiration and drive as a designer and fueled my continued interest in fashion.
MARYAM AL DARWISH
THE DETAILS The best designers are usually the ones who pay attention to the smallest details. As a fashion design student, I have always been precise in designing and producing garments. For my senior collection, I am working on my own individual style, which is playful, but emphasizes the attention to detail and precision. It is a very experimental collection, with several different contrasting details. This is achieved by mixing oversized, abstract floral prints with solids and experimenting with volume and unusual edgy cuts. Aside from being a student at university, I run a business making and selling handmade accessories. I established MBM’s collection four years ago and have found a large interest from the Qatari market. The skills and experience I gained from university and my own business have enriched my knowledge and abilities in the field of fashion.
DYLON ADONIS
TRIGGERED METAMORPHOSIS Once a wall or border is put in place, we separate ourselves from our surroundings. We continue to focus on our differences and only mix with the individuals inside the walls. However, nature knows no bounds. A wall does not stop a bird from flying over and a border does not prevent an insect from crawling into a different country; yet a wall and border sometimes stop us. Conflicts arise amongst people due to the different borders and walls set in place; we divide and stick to our differences as we kill our fellow species over a border determined hundreds of years ago. We ought to follow nature’s wisdom and stop raising walls to separate not only us from nature, but also, us from one another. As I look back at my present and previous design pieces, there remains one constant element—nature. From my first sketch as a child, to my latest collection, I have always drawn upon nature for inspiration. Moreover, there is an underlying desire for humans and nature to coexist. My senior collection embodies the triggered metamorphosis found in nature when the young blithe animals evolve into a more guarded, reserved being. In essence, our lives follow the same standard as we age and society no longer deems certain characteristics appropriate. We start off being creative, innovative and contemporary but morph into products of what society deems apt. My collection is not a social statement to stand against society’s expectations but, instead, serves as a reminder of the sequence of events.
MARWA AL-SAID
BONSOIR NYC Motivation is the fuel for our greatness; and I was motivated by the glory of NYC for my F/W 2015 collection. I breathed the freshest air while observing the colorful nature and absorbing the unique sense of fashion in every social class. Attire does not represent class or status. I realized this in the magnificent city while looking at street-style; it was an eye opening experience. I noticed elements from fashion through the decades incorporated in a modern way. In addition, the city added its own print that still influences fashion to date. I find inspiration in the smallest and most unique details of my surroundings. I fell in love with the prevalent and minuscule features of the Big Apple; from the lights of Time Square to the camouflage colors of an old tree’s trunk in Central Park.
SORAYA TESCHNER
MODERN WARRIOR I wanted to be an architect, so I grew up doing sculpture, making furniture and woodworking. My father was a philosophy professor so I grew up asking a lot of questions. Fashion seemed to be the place where I could solve them creatively. I wanted to ask: What is sacred? What is feminine? What is powerful? What is timeless? I probably have read the following quote by the writer Carlos Castaneda a million times: “The spirit of a warrior is not geared to indulging and complaining, nor is it geared to winning or losing. The spirit of a warrior is geared only to struggle, and every struggle is a warrior’s last battle on earth. Thus the outcome matters very little to him. In his last battle on earth a warrior lets his spirit flow free and clear. And as he wages his battle, knowing that his intent is impeccable, a warrior laughs and laughs.” I wanted to create an image of a modern warrior, a new image of strength that was soft, feminine and even romantic. The virtues that are embodied in the warrior are courage, honesty, humor, and a sense of tranquility. I aimed to express these virtues in the quality of the fabric and in the shape and size of sculptural forms in belts, hoods, collars, pleats, skirts, seams and hemlines. The virtue of the romantic is expressed in the play of design elements that reveal and conceal the body beneath the cloth, its strength, gracefulness and movement. Knitwear allows the fabric to move with the body, and elements of leather unite strength and softness. The silhouettes of this collection suggest the armor of a warrior while retaining the curves and lines of the female.
VCUarts
RICHMOND, VA, USA
GABRIELA VILLALON This collection was inspired by the black widow’s silhouette and the architect Frank Gehry’s work. My collection relates to his aesthetic of deconstruction and evolutionary “unevenness” through asymmetry and hard edges. Some of my neoprene pieces are slashed in reference to the spider web’s effect. Fabrics include: rayon knit and neoprene.
RENE VELASQUEZ This collection was inspired by the conceptualization of a lifestyle that celebrates traveling, career and the new modern women. My collection pays attention to special tailored details and portrays femininity through “aspirational luxury” and asymmetry. The fabrics included in my collection are cotton sateen, silk wool, cotton silk blend, Pima cotton, satin gabardine, wool flannel and leather.
HALEY CHOI This collection is inspired by wood flooring patterns. The wood floorings are represented through denim strips. I have also experimented with my craftsmanship by adding hand-knit panels. The hand-knit pieces are made from fabric yarn of fleece and terry that I have cut myself. This urban, hipster look is targeted towards men and women in their early 20s to late 30s who may also be successful in work and enjoy a free lifestyle. It is a denim heavy collection and is mostly cotton based. In addition, to apply sustainability, I up-cycled donated jeans to construct the denim strips.
CREDITS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Sandra Bell Wilkins EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Imee Acosta STUDENT EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Dylon Adonis PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS AND FACULTY Ali Khan Della Reams Donald Earley Narita Mattock Roda Al Marzouqi Lynette Andreasen Jo Mohammed MASTER TAILOR Abdul Kader MODEL COMMITTEE, ADULTS Soraya Teschner Saadia Ahmed Samyah Abou-Rahma MODEL COMMITTEE, CHILDREN Radheya Samyah Abou-Rahma Mar yam Al-Thani Ghalya Al-Neema Amna Al-Misned Aisha Al-Darwish Sarah Al-Abdulghani
HAIR COMMITTEE Tamader AlSultan Imelda Jurasova Farzana Abedin Kiara Hodges Samia Mohammad Amna Al-Misned Aisha Al-Darwish MAKE-UP COMMITTEE Imelda Jurasova Tamader AlSultan Farzana Abedin Kiara Hodges Samia Mohammad Amna Al-Misned Aisha Al-Darwish MUSIC COMMITTEE Marwa Al Said Noor Al-Mannai Mahnoor Ansari Khulood Al-Busaid ACCESSORIES COMMITTEE Malia Bennett Henry Mar yam Al-Thani Sarah Al-Abdulghani DRESSERS AND BACKSTAGE COMMITTEE Mar yam Al-Darwish Saadia Ahmed Khulood Al-Busaid MARKETING COMMITTEE Kinda Morshed Sara Wanas Dania Al-Qwasmi Noor Al-Mannai
MATERIALS/TEXTILES CONSULTANT Richard Lombard SET/VENUE COORDINATION AND SUPPORT Aisha Al-Suwaidi Radheya Amna al-Misned Aisha Al-Darwish Mar yam Al-Thani HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTISTS Tajmeel SHOW COORDINATOR /MODEL TRAINER Sakala A Debrass
GUEST RELATIONS Nadia Abu Dayeh PRINTING Printec Solutions ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The success of the fashion show could not be possible without the help of the many individuals and organizations who each year contribute to department field studies, workshops and critiques. Ralph Rucci, New York Eric Gaskins, New York PRPS Goods and Co. Don Won and Jahayra Harrell
DRESSER COORDINATOR Esther de Veuve
Fashion Institute of Technology Dr. Valerie Steele
BACKSTAGE COORDINATORS Manjulakshami Bharathan Marianne Bermejo Noor Suleiman
Bespoke New York Andy Yu
ART DIRECTION AND BRANDING Haya Daher Sara Shaaban PHOTOGRAPHY Markus Elblaus EVENT MANAGEMENT Ashley Bur ton MEDIA RELATIONS Meike Kaan
Backstage at the Metropolitan Opera Garrett Clifford Studios Garrett Clifford Utley’s Model Making Shop Elizabeth Arden DKNY Natalie Gr yzwa Ronnie Silva Preview Textiles Jennifer Lee Todd McFarlane Toys Donna Marie Farrell
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