From high heels to bright lights and runways, the fashion industry has it all, including creative designers and models. After discussing it earlier this year, copresidents junior Reese Parker and senior Katherine Ng decided to create a fashion club where students with all levels of experience and interests could come together and bond over their love for fashion.

“I started fashion club earlier this year because I really love fashion and I wanted to organize an opportunity for students who have similar interests,” Ng said. “I thought it would be a fun way for students to express themselves using fashion in an easy going and inclusive environment.”

Fashion Club meets every Thursday in Melissa Hemby’s room. The activities alternate every other week between learning days where members are taught skills such as sewing and hemming and workshop days where members have a chance to practice these skills on their own designs and fabrics. Ng said that the plans for each meeting consist of important skills needed in the fashion industry and members are not required to be taking a fashion class or have any experience at all in order to join.

“Right now we are working on a thrifting reconstruction project where members go out and purchase an item from a thrift store and change it to fit their personal style,” Ng said. “I come up with these plans based on what I think is important for myself and others to learn. I also ask the members for feedback on what they want to see [and] learn.”

As copresident Ng said that she is excited to see the different designs and outfits that the members create and hopes to leave a positive mark on the club. 

“I’m really looking forward to seeing all the members create things that reflect themselves and I hope to influence people in a positive way so that they can express themselves through their work,” Ng said.

With the club just starting out, Parker said that they are using social media in order to promote the club and hopefully get more people to join. The club also submitted for a sponsorship through the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA, and are planning on attending a three-day workshop at the institute in the future. Along with these plans, Parker said that they hope to participate in a few events downtown.

“I knew a bunch of store owners and boutique owners in downtown Austin and at the Domain and Kat is also friends with a bunch of people, so we will be going to some trunk shows,” Parkers said. “I have a couple of designers that I know might come in and teach workshops but [in] this club, you get to do whatever you want to do, here are the resources, and we can teach you how to do it. But it’s full of creative liberty, we don’t make you do anything.” 

Club member junior Ashlyn Mathew said that she joined because of the opportunities the club offers, and because each member brings a different level of experience to the club.

“I am interested in going into Fitum, and there is a scholarship if you are in a fashion club,” Mathew said. “But I also really want to get more into fashion. I want to go to a fashion school and do merchandising.”

Ng said that the club offers people who are interested in fashion business an opportunity to practice and learn important skills in a relaxed environment.

“People should join Fashion Club because it’s a fun and easy way to destress from regular school work with your friends, it’s very relaxed and flexible and student run,” Ng said. “People should also join if they’re interested in a future in fashion so that they have something to put on their resumes and so they get a jumpstart on their experience in fashion.”

For more information, talk to Mrs. Hemby in room 4005.