Erie 1 BOCES FUSION Fashion Show showcases clothing made by Williamsville South student

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  Kyari Flunder

West Seneca (May 13, 2022) - Students in the Erie 1 BOCES Fashion Design Technology program hit the runway with their clothing designs during the 2022 FUSION Fashion Show: Silver Linings.

Among those students is Kyari Flunder from Williamsville South, who showcased her personally designed and crafted collections during the show. The student said the inspiration for her work in the show was the clothing and culture of ‘90s hip-hop music.

“I liked that the girls dressed like the boys by wearing baggy clothing and were accepted the same as they would if they were in a crop top and skirt,” Kyari said. “When creating my mood board, I used the words creativity, culture, and rebellious to represent what the music gives off to me.”

The FUSION Fashion Show, which has been running since 2009, took place on May 12 at the Calspan Building at 4411 Genesee Street, Buffalo, and exhibited the work of ten high school fashion students from across Western New York. The theme for the show was developed by students, who said they considered their studies in the program as a silver lining as COVID impacted their school and personal lives.

Kyari said she wanted to study fashion because it was the best place for her to show her creativity.

“The thing that inspires me the most about fashion is that it has no boundaries; what you create is totally up to you,” she said. “You have full control over the final outcome.”

After high school, Kyari said she would like to continue her education in fashion design. Among her future goals are to open her own store, and to teach younger children how to sew.

The show has evolved into a collaborative event across various Erie 1 BOCES programs. Students in the Barbering and Cosmetology program used their skills to prepare the hair and makeup of models participating in the show, while Criminal Justice students provided support for security. Students in the Digital Media program created posters and tickets for the show and recorded the live show. Meanwhile, students in the Video Production and Recording Arts program made videos to introduce each fashion student and their collection during the show.

The two-year Fashion Design Technology program at Erie 1 BOCES’ Harkness Career & Technical Center teaches students how to dress, style and create trends based on design elements and the fashion cycle. Students in the program also develop business plans as a part of their studies, setting them up for future success.

For more information about the show and the student designers, visit https://www.e1b.org/en/k-12-education-programs/fusion-2022.aspx

About Erie 1 BOCES

As part of public education, Erie 1 BOCES offers a variety of career and technical programs during the regular school day to high school students in Erie County. High school students interested in learning more about how they can participate in various programs such as fashion design, web and gaming technologies, health careers or aviation technology, should visit www.e1b.org/cte or speak with their high school counselor.

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