Each spring semester, 91制片厂 Fashion Design students create a 鈥渟enior collection鈥� as their capstone project. This year, one of the senior design students is a senior citizen.
Dawn Emrath retired from her teaching job in Barrington in 2019. With two grown daughters and some extra time on her hands, she thought it would be fun to take a sewing class at 91制片厂. She got hooked.
鈥淚 signed up for the beginner sewing class,鈥� said Dawn, 66. 鈥淚 enjoyed it so much, I just kept going with it.鈥�
Three years (and many fashion courses) later, Dawn has been working to put the finishing touches on her design collection for the Fashion Design Studio course. It is the culmination of newly acquired skills, a background in sewing and an educational journey she didn鈥檛 realize she was beginning with that first class.
Dawn is excited about seeing her collection walk the runway at 91制片厂鈥檚 , 1 and 8 p.m. Friday, May 20, in the Performing Arts Center. She discussed the collection
鈥� which is red, white and black and features geometric emblems of different sizes
鈥� as a balance between what she brought to the classes and what she learned.
鈥淚 knew a lot, but I also learned a lot,鈥� Dawn said. 鈥淔or my collection, I did a lot of laser cutting, which I didn鈥檛 know anything about [before enrolling]. It also has a lot of quilting and I鈥檝e been quilting for a long time. And I designed some prints, which I had never done before.鈥�
Meanwhile, 91制片厂鈥檚 entire Fashion Studies department is doing something they haven鈥檛 done in a while: hosting an in-person, on-campus show at the end of the academic year. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, the annual show (led by Fashion Merchandising students) went virtual in 2020 and 2021. Nupur Sharma, associate professor and program coordinator for the department, is thrilled to bring the energy of a live event back to 91制片厂.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not only the energy during the performance, but leading up to that. It鈥檚 the time when the department comes together 鈥� the teachers, the Fashion Design students mingling with the Fashion Merchandising students,鈥� she said. 鈥淩elationships matter as much as your own designs in this industry. You can鈥檛 do this in a bubble.鈥�
Student Fashion Show 鈥� "Enigma"
When: 1 and 8 p.m. Friday, May 20
Where: Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students and children 18 and younger (1 p.m. show); $25 adults, $20 students (with ID), $50 VIP (8 p.m. show)
Call the 91制片厂 Box Office at 847.925.6100 or purchase at the door.
Another adult Fashion Design student, Julia Gawron, echoed Nupur鈥檚 thoughts. Set to graduate with her associate degree this semester, she鈥檚 already talking about coming back to visit instructor Beata Kania and check out the continuing creative work at 91制片厂.
Julia, 40, delayed her education while she was a stay-at-home mom to her two daughters. Growing up as the child of two painters in Poland (she came to the U.S. in 2005), Julia knew that she wanted to do something in the arts. Seeing American fashion in her new home helped shape her future.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what medium to pick to express myself. I came to the U.S., and I wasn鈥檛 happy with the level of fashion I was seeing,鈥� Julia said. 鈥淥nce my kids went to school, it was time to do something for myself.鈥�
Lately, Julia鈥檚 been creating an outerwear collection that mixes fur, knitwear and leather while being inspired by Japanese design and surrealism. Like Dawn, she can鈥檛 wait for her family and friends to come see her work in the show.
Reflecting on her three years at 91制片厂 鈥� and countless hours of sewing 鈥� Julia expressed gratitude for the faculty members who helped shape her artistry.
鈥淭he instructors or so knowledgeable,鈥� Julia said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e always encouraging you
to do better and more.鈥�
Dawn agreed while beaming about a new passion that began with one sewing class.
鈥淭his is not what I expected, and it鈥檚 been just fabulous for me personally,鈥� Dawn said. 鈥淚 had no idea that Harper was going to have such a great program with small class sizes. And the professors鈥� I just can鈥檛 say enough about them.鈥�