October 17, 2010

By: Elijah S. from New Orleans, LA
Comments: 16

Posted By: Elijah Sproles
On: 11/12/2008 10:37:34 AM

Hi I have several student in my 5/6 Talented Art class who are interested in exploring fashion design. They have made many great drawings and I would like to try to make some of their VERY BASIC designs. Does anyone have good resources for doing this? Books, websites, etc.? Thanks

Posted By: Kathy Scoggin
On: 11/12/2008 8:58:07 PM

I don't have exactly what you asked for but our art specialist has 5th and 6th graders use basic art materials (the large rolls of bulletin board paper, crepe paper, paper towels, etc. ) to create "Project Runway" type fashion designs. The kids, male and female, love this challenge and find it an excellent place to practice the design process and play with their creativity. Small groups of 4 or so kids work together to design, create, complete, and model their "fashion" in one 55 minute class period.

Posted By: Kwanita Williams
On: 11/19/2008 10:55:54 AM

Sounds fun! We have fashion shows once kids reach high school. Maybe we could challenge the kids to be more creative by designing their own outfits for the fashion show.

Posted By: LeQuyen Tran
On: 11/23/2008 5:15:40 PM

I teach 5th grade and teach my students to sew by hand with a needle and thread. Many of them go on to make more than the pillow we designed for a Christmas present and the baby quilts we make for service learning. You are giving me ideas for add to our class projects such as costumes for historical characters or designing winter coats or others.

Posted By: Jennifer Szeto
On: 11/30/2008 2:14:02 PM

Instead of creating entire costumes, I wonder if designing smaller (more manageable) fashion accessories (bags, shoes, jewelry, etc.) would be more feasible for simple or basic fashion design projects. Using found objects or 'garbage' can encourage more environmentally friendly thoughtfulness and 'greener' design.

Posted By: Karen Lennan
On: 12/15/2008 9:40:25 AM

I think a smaller fashion items might be fashionable ways for students to contain or hold their id tags that must be worn for school. In most schools, ipods, and cell phones and backpacks/purses are not allowed. An affordable, cool way to display that id tag would be pretty cool. Any ideas anyone? I am an English teacher and would not be doind such a things, but would be interested in any results for our school. Karen Lennan

Posted By: Karen Lennan
On: 12/16/2008 10:17:18 AM

It is winter up here in Minnesota. Fashion designs (scarves, knit hats, mittens, knit coats, sweaters, socks, leg warmers) that are affordable and easy to make and decorate would be a hit up here. Karen Lennan

Posted By: Ben zhao
On: 12/30/2008 7:01:27 PM

Hello from another frozen Minnesotan. I love fashion design and a lot of my students ( mostly girls, sadly) said they want to be fashion designers. All of us are big fans of Project Runway on Bravo. I have DVDs on most of them. Two things: 1. After enjoying all the soap opera in the shows, I asked them to concentrate on the critiques which teach all the aesthetics, elements and principles of design. What is the most common reason for early rejected participants? Lack of skills and craft. So, I tell my kids- if you don't love the craft of sewing, stop dreaming/drawing. 2. One of the installment is great fun and learning experience for art and design- wearable art. Kids love this exercise/assignment. A colleague of mine teaches in a private school out east. She had great success with this project involving the whole community.