Ironwood Ridge High School Fashion Design Students Strut their Stuff, Get Real Runway Experience during 'The Illusions'

ORO VALLEY - December 4, 2009 - Ironwood Ridge High School students participating in Sarah San Jule's Pima County Joint Technological Education District (JTED) Fashion Design classes recently gained real runway experience by producing and participating in The Illusions Fashion Event.

Competition to appear in The Illusions was intense, with more than 100 Ironwood Ridge students auditioning to model in the show. Eventually the 60 models selected strutted down the runway in style, decked out in the latest fashions from Dillard's, Banana Republic, Rue 21, Charlotte Russe, David's Bridal, and Men's Wearhouse. Amphitheater's resale shop, Sequels, also supplied fabric and accessories.

"Twenty-seven Advanced Fashion Design and Merchandising students were the driving force behind The illusions Fashion Event," San Jule explained. "This was their baby!

"(The students) came up with everything from the concept to the stage set up to the stores we selected...We also had a great deal of assistance from 75-80 of my Beginning Fashion Design and Merchandising students, who worked as crew members and behind-the-scenes as make-up artists, hair dressers and stage crew."

Great attention was given to every detail from the industrial stage setting draped in black and the theatrical lighting down to the names of attendees draped across the backs of VIP seating and themed gift bags. In charge of making it all happen backstage - student producer Jordyn Coty.

"Being the fashion show's producer was one of the biggest challenges of my high school career," Coty said. "It takes a lot to get all the models together for rehearsals, get stores who are willing to give thousands of dollars of merchandise to some teenagers and to build a stage that creates an amazing performance.

"Fortunately, I have the privilege of having the help of Ms. San Jule and of the two Fashion II classes ... It was an amazing experience and I'm so excited for the next show."

Students completing the two-year fashion design program at Ironwood Ridge High School receive credit to Pima Community College. Sophomore students at Ironwood have room for one elective course in their schedule. Because the fashion design program has grown so popular, they elected to take the course during the zero hour before regular classes.

Program participants receive instruction in drawing and croquis illustration technique, visual merchandise display and large event planning. They also work on the creation and presentation of a professional portfolio.

San Jule's curriculum also develops student awareness to the skills needed to succeed in the fashion industry. This includes exceptional presentation and communication skills, professionalism when interacting with business and community leaders and resume development and interviewing skills.

"Fashion is certainly an ever-growing industry...," San Jule said. "There are so many different areas in the design and merchandising industry to pursue a career in; everything from design/illustration, fashion photography, event planning, visual communications...The options truly are endless."

Coty plans on exploring those options firsthand. Upon graduation, she intends to build upon the lessons learned in San Jule's classes by studying merchandise marketing at The Art Institute of Phoenix or the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Diego or Los Angeles. But whatever the future holds, Coty said she won't forget where she got her start.

"I have grown to love what I do here at Ironwood," Coty said. "I am so grateful that they gave me the opportunity to take a class that I truly love and want to be in every day."

San Jule's students will soon come face-to-face with the world of fashion at its highest level. In March, she and 34 of her students will travel to New York City on a Fashion Design and Merchandising Study tour including some of the biggest names in fashion, such as Macy's, Fairchild Publications and Hugo Boss Corporation.