This year, FCCLA Advisor Amanda Faulkenberry is teaching a fashion design class. Note the emphasis is on “design” and not construction.
“I was trying to think of a fun project to do for the fashion design class when one of my students suggested designing prom dresses,” said Faulkenberry. “Since this is just a design class and not a construction class, I decided we would use newspapers to make the dresses.”
The Marietta Monitor gladly donated newspapers for Faulkenberry’s use, so students were able to see how the design and construction process will one day mesh, but without the expense of buying fabric.
Students first sketched the designs of their dresses, and then constructed them from the newspapers.
“A few of the designs were more of a challenge than the students thought, so they had to alter their original designs a bit,” Faulkenberry smiled, “but since we were using newspaper, it was easy and cheap to start over. And it was a valuable lesson: if you don’t succeed the first time, keep trying until you do!”
The class was divided into groups of four to complete their projects, which took about two weeks from start to finish.
“The details of some dresses were a bit of a challenge – like how to make the high-low dress work, or how to add straps and get a bow to stay on,” explained Faulkenberry. “But they had a good time and they learned doing it.”
Next year’s schedule includes a Fashion 2 class, which will focus on taking garments from design through the construction process, so it will be interesting to see how the newspaper dresses make the journey from paper to fabric. Faulkenberry even has a few students who are looking to compete in FCCLA State STAR Events in the Fashion Design category.
The dresses are displayed in the high school lobby.