Fashion Without Fabric show promises one-of-a-kind creations

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Katie Thoma

MENOMONIE, WIS. (04/02/2013)(readMedia)-- Art and design students at University of Wisconsin-Stout are ready to stretch the boundaries of fashion.

The annual Fashion Without Fabric show is at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center. True to its name, the show will feature wearable creations made of anything but traditional fabric.

"It's always exciting because you really have no idea what the students will do," said show director Katie Thoma, a senior graphic design major from Neillsville. "The designs range from coffee filters sewn into a beautiful ball gown to painted Styrofoam transforming an ordinary student into a terrifying creature."

In the past, creations have been made from materials such as plastic garbage bags, papier-maché, plastic cups, cardboard, computer disks and vinyl records.

The show usually sells out. Tickets are available at http://tickets.uwstout.edu or at the Memorial Student Center, 715-232-1431.

After the show the audience can meet the models and designers at the Terrace lounge in the student center, where the UW-Stout Jazz Combo will be performing.

The theme this year is "Tomorrow is History," which designers could interpret many ways.

"Students may focus on a more retro design, drawing their inspiration from historical events or styles, or on the idea of what the future holds, especially with how new technology has taken such a front seat in everyone's lives," Thoma said. "I expect to see a whole variety of designs this year."

About 75 designs, made by teams of two to three students, will be modeled. Student designers, mostly freshmen, come from nine sections of a 3D design class.

Students can model their own creations or can find friends to take the walk down the runway. "Students are encouraged to 'ham up' the personality of their outfit, which really brings the crowd in and creates a more interactive space between the models and audience," Thoma said.

"It's a really good opportunity for the students to learn how to work efficiently in groups as well as create friendships in their majors that they can carry out all through their time spent at UW-Stout," Thoma said.

A panel of judges will determine the top three designs and also give out a Working the Crowd award and Couture award. Proceeds from the event help provide funding for an art and design scholarship.

UW-Stout also has a traditional fashion show coming up. Apparel design and development students will put on Silhouettes at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 18, and at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in the Great Hall of the student center.