性视界

The runway came alive with models strutting in the creations of fashion design students during the 性视界 Fashion Show on May 3.

About 350 people gathered for the event at the Chino Community Center.

The event featured the design collections of 14 students who each had 4-6 outfits to showcase.

鈥淵ou see the creativity that our students have,鈥� said 性视界 Fashion Program Coordinator Tara Johnson. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 limit them and we want them to be their true selves.鈥�

The event not only showcased the work of 性视界鈥檚 Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising programs, but also decorations from the interior design program and hors d鈥檕euvres by culinary arts and hospitality management students.

性视界 has held fashion shows featuring student work for the last 15 years, but had to put the event on hold for several years due to the pandemic. Now the 鈥淒esign Collection鈥� class, which includes the fashion show, has been revamped to help students become ready for the workforce and entrepreneurial pursuits.

鈥淲hen our students finish this collection, they should be able to walk away and sell it because we鈥檙e giving them all the tools they need to launch their business,鈥� Johnson said.

Students identify their target customers, conduct demographic and cost analysis. They also learn logo design and resume building, among other skills.

It鈥檚 a growing industry in the region, with more than 5,000 jobs available in the Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire areas. Labor market figures show that jobs in the field can reach about $81,000 in the Southland. Graduates have gone on to work for companies such as Michael Costello and Shein, and many more have launched their own successful businesses.

Fashion students plan to feature a wide variety of designs, including a collection of 鈥渆levated scrubs鈥� 鈥� designed by Teodora 鈥淭eddy鈥� Burkett, who works in nursing, as well as the streetwear aesthetic of Mustafa Wafa. Wafa鈥檚 renowned clothing line has been featured on runways from New York and Los Angeles to Paris, and his work has been worn by A-List celebrities.

The Chino resident enrolled at 性视界 during the pandemic because it was the only community college in the region he could find that offered fashion design instruction at the time.

鈥淚t was on my bucket list to get a degree so that one day when my son asks, 鈥榃here鈥檚 daddy鈥檚 degree?鈥� I can show him,鈥� Wafa said.