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UA Students Design Room in Birmingham ShowHouse

4/30/2018

Finding inspiration in a peacock feather pillow, 20 students from the College of Human Environmental Sciences transformed the blank walls of a bedroom and en suite bath into a soothing retreat in the 2018 Birmingham Decorators’ ShowHouse.

Members of Laurl Self’s interior design class CTD 426 were invited to showcase their talent in this year’s event. “The students have been so dedicated to the process. They began the weekend before classes started by attending the preview and measuring of the house. Then with a zero dollar budget, they worked hard acquiring the items for the space that maintained their design integrity. I am so proud of their hard work, their team work, and their design work,” says Self.
On March 28, UA student stylists moved furniture in, slipcovered a headboard, made the bed, hung drapes and art, and put the finishing touches on their assigned the space.

Two months of preparation took place before the final install. The class was divided into teams, each with different responsibilities. The "stylist" team was assigned installation work. Other teams made spreadsheets, the design board, handled logistics, resolved disputes and attended ShowHouse meetings.

The ShowHouse is an annual fundraiser hosted by the Symphony Volunteer Council to benefit the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. The event kicked on Saturday, April 28 and is open through Sunday, May 13. House hours are Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The home is located on Cherokee Road with shuttle service to the house at 3405 Brookwood Road.

See the finished bedroom and bath completed by UA students in AL.com's article "Sneak peek inside the 2018 Decorators' ShowHouse."

From blank walls. . .

Styling team members (l-r) Sarah Shields and Madison Knowles make progress on the 2018 Decorator’s Showhouse.

. . .to finishing touches.

Fashion For Life Proceeds Benefit METAvivor

12/19/2017

The Student Merchandising & Design Association’s Fashion for Life raised $1000 at November’s show which featured the senior collections of 14 University of Alabama apparel design students. Proceeds from the annual fashion show go to a charity of the students’ choice. This year, students selected METAvivor in support of one of their fellow designers, Madison Quattlebaum, whose mom has been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. METAvivor Research and Support, Inc. is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization that uses 100% of donations to fund stage 4 metastatic breast cancer research.

Leah Sneddon, president of SMDA, along with Dr. Shirley Foster, chair of the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design, and Brian Taylor, Design Instructor, presented the check to Madison who accepted on behalf of METAvivor.

Dr. Shirley Foster, Leah Sneddon, Madison Quattlebaum, and Brian Taylor pose with check to METAvivor

(l-r) Dr. Shirley Foster, Leah Sneddon, Madison Quattlebaum, and Brian Taylor

2017 Tee Time Fashion Show

4/26/2017

Apparel and Design students showcased their creativity and resourcefulness in the 2017 Tee Time Fashion Show that was held April 19th on the front lawn of Doster Hall. While the show typically involves sophomore students in the Apparel Production course, it is open to all apparel design majors who want to participate.

Students are asked to create one or two looks that focus on a mix of sustainable design using alternative materials or knit jersey fabrics. This year's show featured a number of re-purposed denim fabrics, bridesmaid dresses and, for those old enough to remember them, Laura Ashley dresses.

"It's basically an opportunity for sophomore and junior students to get outside the box," said fashion instructor Paula Robinson.

Brian Taylor, an instructor in apparel and design added, “It is an opportunity for the students to experience showcasing their designs to the public and going through the production of a fashion show."

"It helps them not be afraid to get out in front of people," Robinson said. "And every artist and designer is always afraid to get out and do that."

Fashion for Life 2016

11/28/2016

The 2016 Fashion for Life fashion runway show was held on November 20th in the Ferguson Center Ballroom.

Fashion for Life began as a way for senior apparel design students to showcase a final collection. “The whole thing is about them and who they are as a designer,” said show coordinator Brian Taylor, an instructor in the department. “They have to style everything – come up with a hair and makeup concept, accessories and shoes, and they even pick their own music.” But it’s more than that. The course helps young designers build time-management skills. Students start researching inspiration and trends, sketching and buying fabrics and trims over the summer. They then begin working on their different looks on the first day of class, creating a garment every couple of weeks.

“Our industry is so time sensitive, from getting fabrics in on time to communicating with the factories and getting deliveries ready on time,” Taylor said. “They have to learn how to balance that.”

Each of the 21 students will show between three to five head-to-toe looks. This year’s show demonstrated a broad range of design styles and customers. Many of the students are creating ready-to-wear looks, items for cocktail hour or outfits that can transition from day to evening.
While most students designed women’s wear, there were couple who added some men’s wear in their collections. There were also two or three designers who put together special occasion pieces and avant garde looks. One designer created a weekend wedding collection that dresses the bride for her bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, wedding and her travel outfit for the honeymoon.

“They are welcome to do any type of category, any kind of design,” Taylor said. “It’s really about where they see themselves going after graduation, what kind of company they want to work for.”

Event attendees not only enjoyed a night of talent and fashion, but they also helped a much-deserved organization. Proceeds from the show benefited the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Below is a pre-show photo shoot that highlights each of the looks. Designer names appear below their creations.

CHES Doll Collection Exhibit

11/22/2016

An assortment of dolls from the collection

A few of the dolls from the Gorgas House Museum exhibit

A new exhibit at The University of Alabama’s Gorgas House Museum may bring a sense of nostalgia for some visitors. The Museum will display a large collection of dolls that represent four generations of the Paul Bryant family. The collection, which is part of the College of Human Environmental Sciences Carolyn Thomas Stewart Costume and Textile Collection, includes dolls, doll furniture, paper dolls, doll houses and doll accessories.

There are more than 900 pieces in the collection, including 125 dolls that are representative of cultures and customs from around the globe. The collection began with a large donation by Mary Harmon Moman Hilburn in 1988 and has expanded over the years with additional donations from faculty, community members and alumni. There are bisque dolls, nuthead dolls, cloth body dolls, wire dolls, composition dolls, yarn dolls, wooden dolls and more, said Dr. Virginia Wimberley, exhibit curator and an assistant professor in the department of clothing, textiles and interior design. Some of the dolls date individually to the late 19th century. There is even a doll — the Alabama Indestructible Doll — that was the only doll to be made in Alabama until the time of the 1988 donation, she added.“Dolls are a very important part of any culture,” Wimberley said. “They allow children to role play future adult roles, do imaginative play. The dolls are part of our material culture and tell about society with the images and materials that are used.”

The Doll Collection will be available to the public during regular museum tours from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Nov. 21 through Dec. 23. The Museum will be closed Nov. 24 and 25.

“We chose the doll collection because not only do many children receive toys at Christmas, but the dolls are also colorful and festive and help add to the atmosphere of our holiday decorations,” said Lydia Joffray, director of Gorgas House Museum. “I hope people can take away an appreciation for dolls in the past as well as an appreciation for the differences and likenesses of dolls from other cultures."

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college news

UA Students Design Room in Birmingham ShowHouse

Fashion For Life Proceeds Benefit METAvivor

2017 Tee Time Fashion Show

Fashion for Life 2016

CHES Doll Collection Exhibit

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