Junior and senior fashion design majors worked to design one-of-a-kind clothing for children in the Lubbock community.
The Surface Design course partnered with local Lubbock children to create custom designs that cater to each child. The students were tasked to incorporate techniques in their designs to help the clothing become adaptable for children. Students were paired up with a child and spent time getting to know them and learning about their style.
After meeting with children to get to know them and a sense of their style, each student
was paired with a child to begin making a few ensembles for them to choose from. The
project's purpose was to create clothing items that represented them and their interests.
Junior Apparel Design and Manufacturing (ADM) major, Hannah Trostle, said her goal for the project was to create a one-of-a-kind garment that would last a long time and fit the child's lifestyle.
"Most of the clothing these kids own is donated and given to them based on what fits, so it was very important for me to create something unique to my kid, giving her a chance to own something that matched her personal style," Trostle said. "I also wanted to ensure that the garments would last a long time and get as much use as possible."
Incorporating the child's style and wearability was important, but she also wanted to cater to the child's preferences and lifestyle. For Trostle, this project was exciting and brought new challenges.
“I think one of the biggest takeaways from this project for me was that no matter what your talents are, there's always a way to use them in serving your community,” Trostle said. “I hope that will inspire others to think about the unique ways in which they can make an impact in their communities with their own skills and hobbies.”
This project motivated senior ADM major, Luis Escobedo, to create something personal
and unique. He was excited to make an impact and help the children feel special.
"I wanted to create something that would impact my child and make them feel special in the clothes I made," Escobedo said. "From the information given by the child, I was able to come up with designs that would fit his interests."
Students were able to connect with the children to learn about their interests and incorporate those elements in the garments. This project allowed ADM students to utilize their creativity in an impactful way.
“This project has made me realize that I can use my talents to do something for the community without expecting anything in return,” Escobedo said. “We can all make a difference in someone's day or life by creating something meaningful for someone, and that's something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.”