CREDIT: EMILY HALL & ALIAH JOHNSON
First year Fashion Merchandising students take recyclable items and create unique garments for the annual wearable art fashion show, this year's theme was Into The Wild.

Fanshawe's Fashion Merchandising students are given the chance to test their skills with the annual wearable art fashion show on March 30.

This year, the theme is Into The Wild.

“We are not fashion designers, we are the business of fashion and fashion merchandising,” said Fashion Merchandising professor Linda Jenken. “This is a fun, creative project, it is not ready to wear, you would never see anyone on the streets with this, it is art on the runway.”

Both first and second year students are involved with the show and preparation starts at the beginning of the winter semester.

“The first year students create the garments in Dynamics of Fashion, which is their inspiration and then they execute the garments in Textiles II, they cost everything out, create a mini version of the outfit and then they create the stage outfit,” Jenken said.

The second year students are involved with production.

“The second year students style and work in committees, and those committees vary from merchandise and model committee, stage committee, advertising and promotion and fundraising so they are a part of putting the event together,” Jenken said.

According to Jenken, the work ethic of the students this year has been outstanding.

“The ‘Into The Wild' Fashion Merchandising producers are a creative and hard working group of students who are dedicated to the success of our annual show. The first year students have gone wild with their creations using recyclable materials creating animalistic and jungle designs for the runway.”

And according to second year Fashion Merchandising student Meagan Bain, the wearable art fashion show is a truly rewarding experience.

“We are making the show on our own, we have mentors and guidance from our teacher, but we are really calling a lot of the shots and making a lot of decisions… it is amazing experience.”

Bain is part of the stage committee, which she admits has been a lot of work.

“For awhile we were just getting together inspirations and figuring out what we want to do,” Bain said. “A lot of time was spent on the design and figuring out what materials we need and sourcing the materials and now we are rushing to make everything and get everything done.”

According to Bain, the students have an extra push to work hard as the show is for charity. For eight years, the wearable art fashion show has been working with Itsy, a grassroots organization that supports families who have infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's Hospital in London, ON.

“Children are the future, students are very good when it comes to giving back and it is nice to support a charity at the grassroots level, opposed to a large charity, where 100 per cent of the money goes to the families and not to administration,” Jenken said. “Laurel [the creator of Itsy] and I partnered over eight years ago and it's been great ever since.”

The event will take place at the London Music Hall at 7 p.m. and is intended for all ages. Tickets are available for $25 at the Biz Booth or in the design office at M3010.