A fitting fundraiser for Unbound

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: ERIKA FAUST
(From left) Julia Holbert, Cassie Smith, Monica Nealis and Ashley Gennuso are the second-year Fashion Design students behind Fashion Fits, an on-campus alteration services that’s raising money for the Unbound fashion show in 2014.

Everyone has that one item of clothing that doesn't fit quite right. It hangs in your closet, taunting you with its unique design, but every time you try it on, it just doesn't work.

Four second-year Fashion Design students want to get that item out of your closet and into your regular rotation of outfits, and they're hoping to raise some money for their fashion show while they're at it.

Cassie Smith, Ashley Gennuso, Monica Nealis and Julia Holbert are the students behind Fashion Fits, an on-campus alteration service in H3006 that offers reasonable prices, skilled work, a loyalty card (buy five pant hems, get one free) and even a delivery service. Fashion Fits is a nonprofit business, so customers can receive a tax receipt if they spend over $20 on services.

The business was started as a project for the students' Business of Fashion class, and it officially opened in early February. "(An alternation shop) was something we had thought of earlier as an option for a fundraising possibility," said Holbert. "We'd heard from certain people around campus that it was something they'd be interested in and looking for — some of the staff and faculty had mentioned it."

"We just figured, we have the skills to do it and there's a market here, so why not give it a shot?" said Smith. "We're going full force until the end of April, because that's when we're done school." She added that the team is thinking about continuing Fashion Fits on a modified schedule in the summer as some of the students will be in town. "If there's a demand for it, we'd want to be able to keep the clientele base."

Smith added that there is a chance Fashion Fits will be taken over by the next crop of students in 2014. "We've had a lot of really good feedback from people, so we think it's something that could really flourish and develop. If it's going to be a good fundraiser, we want to be able to pass that on."

The four students are bringing a wealth of experience to Fashion Fits. "We all have backgrounds (in sewing)," said Gennuso. "Monica has her own business where she sews things; Julia's worked in theatre; Cassie just got a job tailoring at Moores (a men's clothing store); and I've worked at a bridal shop."

All proceeds from Fashion Fits will benefit the students' Unbound fashion show in April 2014. This annual fashion show is put on by third-year Fashion Design students with a ton of help from student volunteers in the first or second years of the program. The Fashion Fits team wants to raise between $500 and $1,000 over the Winter 2013 term for the April 2014 show. The entire class of Fashion Design students tries to raise between $5,000 and $7,000 for the show altogether. "We've set the bar high, and so we're going to try to achieve it," said Nealis.

It costs $75,000 to run the Unbound show from start to finish each year. Included in that price is the cost of renting Museum London for the day, hiring professional models, catering, and all the other costs associated with putting on an amazing show. The money also pays for the Unbound magazine, which is printed with Canada's Flare magazine. Students raise as much of that $75,000 as possible, and the rest comes from sponsorships.

Fashion Fits is open for drop-in hours Mondays from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in H3006. You can also make an appointment by emailing fashionfits.unbound@gmail.com. Check out Fashion Fits on Facebook at facebook.com/fashionfits2014.

FASHION FITS PRICE LIST:

Pants
Hem $7
Blind hem $9
With lining add $4
Speciality hem $12
Replace zipper $10
Waist (in or out) $10

Dresses and Skirts
Hem $9 (with lining add $4)
Replace zipper $10
Button Attachment $1 per button

Fitting Garments and Mending
Pricing will be quoted on request