This post is by guest co-bloggers, Carole Herbert and Ionia Cisse.

Mrs. Carole Herbert  and Mrs. Ionia Dunn Lee Cisse are teachers at the High School of Fashion Industries, and advisors in the after-school club that designs fashions for the yearly Anti-Prom fashion show. The New York Public Library is grateful for the encouragement and leadership they give their young designers, and for the insights they've graciously shared with us here.

A Round of Applause, Please

Sixteen very talented, self-motivated, hardworking design students from the High School of Fashion Industries (HSFI) created the fabulous fashions presented at this year’s Anti-Prom and exhibited at the Mid Manhattan Library, from June 27–July 29, 2016. They are: Angliek Jones, O’Shira Godwin, Maggie Chen, Shaimelys Marcano, Michelle Marshall, Tianna Blackwill, Keyanna Spann, Daniela Morales, Cydnee Schoolfield, Tais Ciprian, Susana De Los Santos, Deannelys Corcino, Kadeem Lamorell, Kyla Underwood, Destiney March, and Katherine Camilo. A round of applause, please!

The students are part of an after-school club focused on the Anti-Prom fashion show. We are are the club's advisors, and we have proudly been involved with the Anti-Prom fashion show for several years - Mrs. Herbert for four years, and Mrs. Cisse for three. Previously, Judith Dayhill, HFSI Librarian and Belinda David, HSFI Fashion Design Teacher, worked together on Anti-Prom events. At that, they partnered with industry professionals who gave students encouragement and constructive criticism.

From the Start

The Anti-Prom was started in 2004 by Young Adult Librarians working with a group of teen advisors. The prom was created to culminate the end of the school year with a dance event where a diverse group of young people would not be embarrassed, regardless of their race or gender preferences. In subsequent years the event became coupled with a themed fashion show featuring the creations of talented HSFI students. Themes over the years have included:

2010 – Glam

2011 – Super

2012 – Monster

2013 – Masquerade,

2014 – Punk Rock

2015 – Fairy Tale

This year 2016 marks the seventh year with a fashion show, and the theme this year is “Secret Garden.” Inspired by research at the high school’s library and in the NYPL visual collections, students planned, sketched, designed, produced and fitted models for fashions that reference and evoke everything found in gardens, from the pleasant to the dark.

The Anti-Process

After the theme is unanimously agreed upon, the process begins.

1. 

   First, the students conduct research at the HSFI School Library and in visits to the New York Public Library Picture Collection, Prints and Photographs Division and Library of the Performing Arts in order to understand the theme and get design inspirations. Student, Kadeem Lamorell states, “What happens for me is, I think of the design first and then pair the research with the design. Before going to the library, I had about three designs in mind. I showed them to Mrs. Herbert, and we decided on one dynamic design.”
2. Then, each student creates a detailed descriptive sketch, and sits down with Mrs. Herbert to work out the flat pattern draft. The students spend two to three weeks perfecting their sketches and carefully drafting the flat pattern.

3. 

   The New York Public Library generously provides each designer with $100, and everyone goes on a fabric shopping spree at Mood Fabrics. “It was kind of frustrating shopping for fabric, because I couldn’t decide what I wanted. I wanted rose red, but Mrs. Herbert encouraged me to stretch myself and go for a brighter color. We settled on a marigold and I love it,” admits Michelle Marshall.
4. The cutting process takes place as each student lays out and cuts the flat paper pattern into carefully crafted fabric pieces.
5. The pieces are then joined together as the sewing fun begins. Kadeem says, “Sewing is hot and cold with me because it’s a journey to find a machine that you can partner with. I found mine and named her Betty.” Shaimelys Mareano loves the sewing and says that it is the best part because at this point, she can now see her design come alive.”

6. 

   Model fitting takes place in between the sewing in order to get an idea of how the garment will look on the model in motion, and to work out any fit issues.
7. A mood board is created to capture the temperament and attitude of each student’s creation, and these are displayed at the Anti-Prom event.
8. On the evening of Anti-Prom, the students prep their fashions on their models, and each design is artfully accessorized to complete the total picture.
9. Finally, the Anti-Prom DJ changes the music after an announcement is made, and the models walk the fashions down the grand stairs of Astor Hall.
10. Lastly, the fashions are draped on dress forms for an exhibition at the Mid-Manhattan Library.

'The Fashion Show Has Become a Staple'

Mrs. Carole Herbert, HSFI Fashion Design Teacher and Anti-Prom Creative Director and Club Advisor states, “This is my fourth Anti-Prom year, and there is nothing more gratifying than seeing the joyful expressions on the faces of the kids when they complete their garment The fashion show has become a staple of Anti-Prom whereas before, it was a novelty. Anti-Prom is more popular now with our students. Now, the students in the lower grades look forward to joining Anti-Prom when they become Juniors.”

 

 

"A 'Blessing and an Honor'

“It is a blessing and honor to work along side of Mrs. Herbert in helping to assist these creative HSFI students reach their highest fashion potential,” echoes Mrs. Ionia Cisse, HSFI Fashion Design Teacher and Anti-Prom Co-Club Advisor.

Growing and Branching Out

As Anti-Prom continues, we will publicize and promote it even more by educating our HSFI community and the fashion community about what it is and what it stands for. We hope that industry professionals will become more involved with the production of our fashion show. And we are excited about the addition of NYPLarcade, a dedicated gaming space at this year’s event, with Thomas Knowlton, Young Adult Librarian.

We are also dedicated to giving our emerging fashion designers as much exposure as possible. For example, Anti-Prom fashions also appear at the Makers Faire, the Greatest Show (and Tell) event on Earth. It is a family-friendly festival of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new.