Fairfax Academy Students Host Fashion Show

A years worth of work comes to a head for Fairfax Academy high school students next week when their clothing lines take the stage in a fashion show.

“Everyone has little struggles with their collections, so the coolest thing will be able to see all of our friends come together and see that it was all worth it,” said Sarah Dowell, 17. 

Fairfax Academy’s Fashion Design program trains students for a career in the fashion industry.

The program, housed within Fairfax High School, is one of six academies in the Fairfax County Public School System (FCPS). Students in academies take these advanced career elective courses to prepare themselves for careers in their chosen field.

Juniors or seniors from about 20 different high schools attend courses in the academy, though there are some geographical restrictions for who can take classes there, according to Gwen Plummer, Fairfax Academy’s news liaison. 

“Our current group of second-year students are required to do a design collection of five garments and that’s what will be on display,” Plummer said.

The show takes place next week, when nine seniors will showcase five head-to-toe looks they have worked on since the start of the school year, said Fashion Design instructor Jin-A Chang.

Students are responsible for all aspects of their garments, including envisioning a theme for their collection, designing their own patterns and sewing the garments.

“It’s their show, its their line, so mostly I leave it up to them, but we do have a process where they refine their design,” Chang said.

Dowell, one of the designers, said her work is called “Chaos Theory” and is inspired by the book “Where the Wild Things Are.” 

“It uses a lot of prints mixed with black,” Dowell said. “It relates to the book and how the kid struggles with juggling his imagination and real life.”

Dowell will be attending the Savannah College of Art and Design next year and hopes to pursue a career in fashion.

A week before the show, Dowell is less stressed then she thought she would be.

“I thought it would be and its kind of scaring me…it’s really exciting and kind scary at the same time,” Dowell said.

Next week’s “Fashion in Motion” show takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Sherwood Community Center at 3740 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax.

Students put on the show from start to finish, and those involved in television production will oversee technical aspect of the event.

The show, which is part of the Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Festival, is supported by grant funding from the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts, according to a press release from FCPS. 

Tickets to the even are $15 and available online or from the fashion design program.