Fashion show highlights student designs inspired by OSU Museum of Art exhibition

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

The OSU Museum of Art is pleased to host “WAKATI: A Fashion Show” on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. 

A collaboration between the OSU Museum of Art and the Department of Design, Housing, and Merchandising, the fashion show will display a collection of outerwear inspired by the museum’s current exhibition, WAKATI: Time Shapes African Art. The collection was created by students in DHM 4403: Advanced Apparel Design in the fall 2015 semester with Dr. Mary Ruppert-Stroescu. 

As part of the assignment, the student designers visited the museum and researched not only the artwork, but also key ideas explored in the exhibition, such as the ways that many Africans perceive the concept of time. They also participated in a textile development workshop with AKIRASH, an artist whose work is featured in WAKATI (his work was also temporarily on view in the OSU Student Union Atrium at that time). 

The 13 designers worked together to develop a color story, mood board concepts, price point, benchmark brands, and customer profile. The customer profile they identified is a village with a range of all ages and genders represented.  From there, each designer chose a specific customer and designed a three-piece collection of outerwear, all using the same dark blue wool fabric, and incorporating a new component such as 3D printing, original textile design, or electronics. 

The fashion show is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required. WAKATI: Time Shapes African Art will be on view at the OSU Museum of Art through January 16. More information on the exhibition is available at museum.okstate.edu. 

The show will be streamed live on www.ostate.tv starting at 6 p.m.