Synergy runway show a vogue success

Though Michael Kors was not on-hand with a disparaging remark, the pressure was on for the dozens of apparel design majors featured Saturday night.

Synergy, the RSO dedicated to fashion, held its annual fashion show where upper level apparel design majors showcase their collections in a competition.

Trabant Multi-Purpose Room was filled to capacity with a long, black runway backed by one large screen and flanked by two smaller screens.

This year, the theme was "Fin d'Illusion: An Awakening to Reality," with collections branching from a "sustainability" premise.

Belinda Orzada, fashion and apparel studies professor and Synergy advisor, says any senior who wants to may enter the competition.

"It's their prerogative," Orzada says. "They just have to take certain 300-level classes so there are no younger designers."

Planning for the event started last fall, she says, but the addition of a fashion promotion course helped in the organization this year.

A video montage kicked off the show with clips of the designers in the early morning hours amid a hodgepodge of Red Bull and half-dressed mannequins.

The blank canvas competition followed in which dozens of designers entered ensembles from their 300-level class projects.

One by one, models walked down the runway ranging in anything from a long, elegant maternity evening gown to a flowery bikini.

Meagan Edmond swept the judges away with her ensemble, a long navy and white-striped dress with Hawaiian-inspired flowers. She was awarded first place in the blank canvas competition.

The senior collections competition featured 20 design students. They had complete control over their shows, from collection names to music selections. The students were given an overall theme, "Sustainability," to develop a cohesive collection of three to four pieces.

The segment started with Meghan Campbell's "East Meets Best" collection, featuring two dresses and a skirt and jacket combination with Eastern purple accents, and ended with Kristin Willersdorf's "Self Sufficiency" collection, a striking contrast to the beginning of the show with natural lime, tan and pink fabrics.

Each designer's models paraded onto the stage and took turns down the runway. After the models were finished, the designer came on stage to take a bow.

Some broke the pattern of skirts and dresses. An audience favorite, Kelly Shaw's "Pretty 'N' Pink" collection was modeled by sassy girls decked in purple and pink.

Another designer, Meghan Russ, showcased her three wedding dress designs.

From earth tones to vibrant pink, each designer made the theme her own.

Orzada says the judges had several categories to score, including originality, appearance, fit, use of fabric and cohesiveness.

Nicole Rae Styer, Philadelphia-based freelance designer and competition judge, says she looked at how the designers' apparel fit the models.

"One important factor is whether they knew what kind of girl they were aiming for," Styer says. "The ones that stuck out knew what their model looked like."

Brenda Greene was taken completely aback when her name was called at the end of the competition. She had just been awarded first place in the senior collections segment.

"It was so exciting," Greene says. "I didn't expect it-there wasn't any time backstage for me to compose myself."

Greene's collection, entitled "Seasonal Adaptation," was comprised mostly of hemp and a sheer pinkish-red fabric with rainbow threads throughout.

"When I went shopping I just fell in love with this red, sheer fabric," she says. "The cord and embroidery are all just pieces pulled from that fabric. I braided it myself."

Greene used both materials to create three transformable outfits. Her outfits were the product of three months of hard work. She started developing her sustainable concept months ago.

"When I learned the theme, I really had no idea what I was going to do," Greene says. "I started working with the idea of sustainability throughout the seasons.

"For example, this jacket has sleeves that can come off to be a vest if it's warm out."

Chaos ensued after the lights came back on as the designers were mobbed by friends and family members. Orzada, looking on at the frenzied scene of flashing cameras and bouquets of flowers, says she was pleased with the event.

"It was definitely a success."