Fanshawe Fashion Design graduates take over the runway on April 9

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Fanshawe's graduating Fashion Design students create beautiful collections to walk the runway during the 10th annual Unbound fashion show.

The Fanshawe College Alumni Association presents the 10th annual Unbound Fashion show on Saturday, April 9. This event is an opportunity for graduating Fashion Design students to debut a unique five-look collection that they feel represents them in a creative way.

As Meredith Jones, Fashion Design professor at Fanshawe College explained, “Unbound is a New York style fashion show gala at Museum London. It is a fun atmosphere with great energy.”

Prior to the fashion show there is a reception in the museum gallery with drinks and appetizers where students and people within the fashion industry have the chance to mingle, said Jones.

She continued on to say that the party does not end once the show is finished, the runway is followed by live music and a fashion shoot with the models that are wearing the winning collection.

“This year we are lucky to have Glass Face, an up and coming band who has been profiled on the CBC and who are currently enrolled in Fanshawe’s Music Industry Arts program. With all the creativity, the air is buzzing with excitement.”

Isn’t too late to get tickets to this evening gala.

Tickets are $45 which includes music, entertainment and appetizers. Tickets are available from the Grand Theater box office at grandtheatre.com/.

There is also a friends and family matinee. Tickets for the afternoon show are $30 and can be purchased directly from Fashion Design students.

The Unbound show gives Fanshawe students a great opportunity to showcase their work with an upscale and exciting evening.

“We are able to profile the creativity of everyone in a special and unique way that makes Unbound so special. It an amazing experience to have the student’s designs profiled in such a professional way and is a great way to launch their career and celebrate all their hard work. When speaking with our alumni they always say the Unbound show was a highlight of their time at Fanshawe,” Jones said.

As Jones explained, this gala is unlike any other. This is largely due to how much time and collaboration goes into creating the show.

“It is more than just a fashion show, it is an event, with music, short films, fashion, food and of course networking with fashion industry and local celebrities. It is art, fashion and music, what more could you ask for? Plus it is always fun to dress up for a night on the town.”

Jones highlighted how there are many students from various departments that work together to create this spectacular night.

“Unbound is a very large event, it is a collaboration between many programs not just fashion design,” Jones said. She said a spectrum of students in different programs help to bring the project together, from Technical Theatre providing the production expertise for runway lights and sound to MIA producing original music for the show.

New programs the show is working with this year include the hairstylist program and the Marketing program.

“It takes a village to raise a child and a lot of programs working together to produce Unbound. We are so thankful for all the talent Fanshawe has to offer!”

Perhaps the best part of the event is the opportunity it creates for graduating Fashion Design students to experience their designs walking the runway and getting feedback from judges that includes fashion designer Franco Mirabelli, Toronto Fashion Incubator’s Susan Langdon and marketing guru Gail McInnes. Television personality Glen Baxter will be returning as emcee.

To mark the 10th anniversary of this event, some notable alumni have been invited to share the runway with the students and their mentor, Canadian designer David Dixon.

“I am truly excited and inspired by the 2016 graduates of Fanshawe’s Fashion program. Not only are we celebrating great design [that night], we are also celebrating a legacy of 10 years of great design,” Dixon said.

Jones spoke of the alumni that will also be showcasing their work on the runway

“Amanda Matthews, a past grad who recently was at New York Fashion week, and Ashley Davies whose designs have been worn by Lady Gaga, are just some of our alumni who will also be featured on the runway,” Jones said. “Some Londoners may not know about the secret talent we have here in London Ontario, but the Toronto industry certainly does.”