Learning Real-Life Skills Through the Art of Fashion
My students need these items to create their apparel lines, learn construction skills, practice dyeing and painting and have real world experiences which evidence the expectations of the fashion world.
I teach apparel classes at a rural high school with students who are just waiting for their lives to begin. It is my first semester at this school and the purpose of this project is to provide the tools students need to learn the reality of the fashion industry as they build skills, knowledge, and vocabulary which may spark some interest in a path beyond high school. As kids from a rural area, they often see nothing beyond the boundaries of their small town. We are very close to a large metro area which has real opportunities, not only to pursue alternative courses of education but to dive into a strong career in fashion. The problem is my students simply think they can't or worse, are totally unaware that those opportunities exist.
I have done much research regarding the concept of disciplinary literacy.
This emphasizes the impact of teaching kids real world skills to help them devise a plan that takes them beyond high school. This course is the ideal vehicle to help spark their interest in preparing a viable life course complete with a great paying job and a creative lifestyle they can embrace.
My Project
In my apparel classes, students have the freedom to design fashion dreams, but they often don't have the money necessary to see those dreams come to life. The purpose of this class is to provide students the opportunity to practice the skills necessary to become successful designers, apparel producers, fashion forecasters, manufacturers and merchandisers.
But often our sewing machines are quiet because we don't have the supplies necessary actual create what they are able to design.
Specifically this is what we need and why... I teach my class to build apparel from the ground up, so we need yarn to learn to weave, crochet, and knit. This allows the students to better understand the construction of fabric. Next I teach textile design. In this we need paints, dyes, and other embellishment so they understand how textiles are printed and logos are created. We then sketch using croquis. My classroom has five year old colored pencils and no water colors: two items which most designers rely upon. Then we learn construction. The biggest road block is pattern making and draping. This is a foundational skill that requires lots and lots of muslin. Finally, I teach how to redesign using t-shirts and tote bags. This activity teaches the concepts of recycling and re-purposing.
Your donation will allow my students to practice these hands-on learning practices as they sketch, create fabric, make patterns, dye and paint, design, learn to recycle clothing and ultimately have something they can take home and say, "I designed this." That sense of investment may build a desire to pursue a career in fashion and a lifetime of creativity.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Teacher D. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.