UC Design Students Prove Thrift Is Chic at RetroFittings Fashion Show

“There’s so much more to fashion than sitting in a studio,” says Ann Firestone, the University of Cincinnati fashion design professor who’s directing students’ work for the upcoming

St. Vincent de Paul RetroFittings Fashion Show

on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Music Hall.

Firestone is right. The mission of UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning is to educate students so they can contribute to the creation of a better visual and design environment for everyone. And the annual St. Vincent de Paul Fashion Show, which supports the organization’s outreach programs, is one of the first opportunities students going through DAAP’s fashion design program have to apply their craft to that goal.

Given a $15 voucher, sophomores are challenged to design runway-ready garments with materials sourced from St. Vincent de Paul’s thrift stores.

“We want our students to expand their worldview and push their creativity,” says Firestone. “We also want them to develop their sense of empathy and understand the value in supporting an organization like St. Vincent de Paul.”

Each year, a theme is chosen to emphasize the potential of the merchandise in St. Vincent de Paul’s stores. This year’s theme is Fantasies, Fables, and Fairytales, inspired by the stories of Grimm, Disney and Marvel comics. Every student is assigned a character and they are challenged to create an original design that builds upon that character’s story.

“We don’t ask students to recreate a character’s costume,” Firestone says. “We want them to highlight some aspect of their circumstances, surroundings or personality.”

Now in it’s 13th year, the RetroFittings fashion show has become a key fundraising event for St. Vincent de Paul in its work maintaining the front line of emergency aid for neighbors in need. Find out how you can purchase tickets to RetroFittings and support the work of St. Vincent de Paul by visiting

www.svdpcincinnati.org

.

DETAILS

“Fantasies, Fables and Fairytales”

St. Vincent de Paul RetroFittings Fashion Show

Featuring the work of fashion design students at the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning

6 p.m., Thursday, Oct.15

Music Hall Ballroom

Cincinnati, Ohio

1241 Elm St.

Cincinnati OH 45202

CONTACT INFORMATION

Kristen Klein

Development Director, St. Vincent de Paul

513-562-8853

ABOUT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been providing innovative, practical emergency assistance to Greater Cincinnati and Hamilton County residents in need for more than 145 years. The organization works personally with those in need, regardless of race or creed, to bridge the spiritual, emotional and material gaps in their lives through home visits provided by neighborhood-based volunteer groups, and groundbreaking initiatives like the Charitable Pharmacy as well as a network of nine food pantries and seven thrift stores and donation centers across Cincinnati. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul continues to be a leading community service organization, having been recognized as a Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics winner by The Better Business Bureau, a One Award Finalist, and as Non-Profit of the Year by The CincinnatiUSA Regional Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit

www.SVDPcincinnati.org

.

ABOUT DAAP

The University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) is a comprehensive research and design institution offering undergraduate majors in architecture, art history,fashion design, fine arts, graphic communication design, horticulture, industrial design, interior design, urban planning, and urban studies. DAAP also offers graduate degrees in architecture, community planning, design and fine arts.

DAAP’s primary mission is the creation of a better visual and design environment, which is achieved through excellence in educational programs, research, creative works and service to the community. DAAP’s programs within the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning are, year after year, ranked among the very best in both a world and national class. Visit DAAP at

daap.uc.edu

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