Auburn and Alabama may have a new rival tradition: the Iron Bowl of fashion.
The Huntsville Museum of Art Guild wanted to create a unique way to combine fashion and art.
Its solution: Fashion Fusion Face-off.
“We have a great fashion exhibit coming to the museum next month,” said Cheryl Matthews, chair of Fashion Fusion Face-off. “We wanted to know what we could do with that idea and how we could combine the schools, because it is a ‘fusion.’”
The museum sent 16 different pieces, ranging from oil paints to metal statues, to the University of Alabama's and Auburn University’s design programs. Students were to create and manufacture a clothing item based on the artwork they chose.
“It was cool to see how even the students that chose the same pieces of artwork had different interpretations,” Matthews said.
The top four designs from each school were chosen as finalists. Each finalist will have their design displayed in the Grisham Gallery of the Huntsville Museum of Art Guild March 28-April 7.
The winners are divided into categories. The crowd favorite will be awarded $500. The winner selected by the industry judges will be awarded $1,000. And the University winner will be awarded a minimum of $2,500.
Each finalist was paired with a “celebrity” alumnus from their school — football players, entrepreneurs — who is responsible for getting the word out about the designer they are representing and encouraging people to vote online.
Sarah Grace Steles, senior in apparel design merchandising, said her design, a long velveteen ball gown, was not in her usual realm of style.
“I would consider my usual style more of a Bohemian mixed with classic Chanel,” Steles said. “But sometimes you start out doing one thing and end up doing something else.”
Steles’ design was based off of an old, raggedy yellow couch.
“This is the biggest and most thoughtful piece I’ve ever done,” Steles said. “I did a background story of what the couch once was and then decided to do a ball gown as a juxtaposition, sticking with the colors.”
Alaundra Shealey, senior in apparel design, also decided to create a dress, but with a different feel.
“When I saw the piece I was designing from, it instantly drew me in,” Shealey said. “I don’t normally like red, but it was so colorful and bright and instantly made me think of a jazz club.”
Shealey said she definitely feels the face-off will be a steep competition.
“I’ve seen some of the Alabama designers, and it was motivation to step my game up,” Shealey said. “I’ve also read some of the Alabama designers write-ups, and they seem very impressive in my eye.”
Caroline Collier, senior in apparel product and design management, chose her piece because it was “simple and minimalistic.”
“I thought I could do a cool spin off of it,” Collier said. “It’s a leather dress with mink fur detailing and suede inserts. I wanted to do something dramatic but wearable for any occasion.”
Amanda Chiogioji, a recent graduate from the University of Alabama in apparel and textile, said she was brought into the competition when a former teacher emailed her.
“I figured why not because it is a great opportunity,” Chiogioji said.
Chiogioji’s inspiration came from a multitude of places, and her design is something she said she would actually wear herself.
“I chose four images for mine,” Chiogioji said. “But the flowers going up the skirt were inspired by a design program I did in Paris last summer.”
Like the Auburn designers, Chiogioji said she is excited to meet the judges and designers from a different school.
“I’ve never done a competition at this level before,” Chiogioji said. “It interests me to meet the judges and designers and to see their perspective on the art.”
Matthews said this competition is an all-around great opportunity.
“We are always trying to reach out to the whole state,” Matthews said. “By having this and involving young designers is a good way to showcase their work and also gain exposure for the museum.”
Voting for the crowd favorite design will continue until April 7 and can be done online at www.fashionfusionfaceoff.com.
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