credit: Lexi Saldana
Fanshawe College first-year fashion students showcase their creativity this Friday in a student-led pop-up fashion show, turning secondhand clothing into original designs upstairs in Forwell Hall.
The event showcases upcycled garments made entirely from thrifted or old materials. Organized by students, the show gives many participants their first chance to design, construct, and model a complete outfit, while gaining real-world experience outside the classroom.
The fashion show is based around sustainability, with students turning old clothing into new designs. First-year fashion student Raya Bandara helped organize the event.
“The whole idea was turning old into new,” Bandara said. “Everything had to be made from secondhand or old garments and given a new life.”
Rhva Bandarra (event Organizer) Credit: Parasdeep Singh
Bandara says the idea for the show came from wanting to see classmates’ work outside of class.
“We were all working in separate groups,” she said. “I really wanted to see what everyone was making, so we decided to put together a fashion show.”
Planning the event was one of the biggest challenges.
“It was a lot of emailing and figuring out logistics like music and space,” Bandara said. “But everyone helped each other out, and that made it run smoothly.”
Cameron Peter, Jessica Kumar, Julia Capisani Hughes Credit: Parasdeep Singh
Students like Cameron Peter, Jessica Kumar, and Julia Capisani Hughes said the project taught them to turn ideas into garments, understand the full design process, and work under deadlines.
They also enjoyed collaborating with their peers and brought their upcycled creations to life on the runway.
For many students, the show offers an early taste of what’s to come later in the program.
Emma Sount (Emma.smout@outlook.com) Credit: Parasdeep Singh
“It gives us experience before our third-year fashion show,” Bandara said. “For a lot of people, it’s their first time ever making a full garment or walking a runway.”
First-year fashion student Emma Smelt says the project made sustainability a central part of the learning experience.
“We had to thrift every material we used and upcycle it into a new outfit,” Smelt said. “It was exciting to experience this level of professionalism in our first year.”
Students say the pop-up fashion show builds confidence, strengthens collaboration, and proves that creativity — and fashion — can start with what already exists.
Michelle Keneplanik, fashion design student Credit: Lexi Saldana
For first-year fashion design student Michelle Keneplanik, the show marks a major first.
“This was my first time actually putting everything together,” Keneplanik said. “Before, we only did sample pieces like a pocket or a zipper, but this was everything coming together as one garment.”
She says the process helped her understand how much time and effort goes into fashion design.
“I was a little ambitious at first,” she said. “I wanted to do so many things, but I learned how long it actually takes. Even so, it turned out really nicely.”
Keneplanik designed a long denim skirt using thrifted jeans, inspired by styles she saw online. She says resizing and reattaching the waistband was the most challenging part of the project.
With files from Lexi Saldana
