PREVIOUS SPREAD , TOP LEFT : Sophie Rockwell and Claire Caldwell prepare for the evening ’ s StyleWeek SEED Student Design Challenge . LOWER LEFT : Lincoln School teacher Anita Thompson adjusts a garment designed by Xiwen Zhang . RIGHT SIDE : A dress made from repurposed newspapers , tissue paper and cardboard by Xiwen Zhang heads down the runway .
Every year , high school students at the Lincoln School or undergrads at colleges like Brown University , MassArt , the Fashion Institute of Technology , Rhode Island School of Design , Parsons School of Design , Lasell University ’ s School of Fashion , the University of Rhode Island and the School of Fashion Design Boston construct wearable garments using repurposed materials .
This year ’ s crafty catwalk presentation takes place again with the Lincoln School on June 15 at the Capital Grille patio in Providence . “ This has always been one of my favorite shows because the student really has to think about what they are creating from not only a creative angle , but functionally and what message they want to portray ,” Ortiz says .
Last June , Rhode Island Monthly sent a photographer to document the behind-the-scenes , backstage process of getting models ready for the runway . The SEED winner for 2022 was Sophie Rockwell , who designed a two-piece halter and skirt in aquamarine and navy .
That final walk down the runway with models and designers joined together is Ortiz ’ s favorite moment . “ Their smiles and seeing their confidence shine through are exactly why I continue to do StyleWeek ,” Ortiz says . styleweeknortheast . com
THIS PAGE , FROM TOP : Lillia Mechrefe fits her tasseled dress made with a bodice adorned with shards of compact discs on model Michaella Lesieur ; student designer Andy McEnroe adjusts a dress made of garbage bags on model Kayla Mandeville .
OPPOSITE PAGE , CLOCK- WISE FROM TOP : Lincoln School teacher Anita Thompson adjusts a garment by Xiwen Zhang ; student designer Skye Goldenberg relishes a backstage moment before the show ; StyleWeek guests network before the show ; student designer Isabel Berkenblit adjusts a twopiece chainmail garment made from linked soda tabs on Lincoln School model Anna McClean ; student designer Assana Bowen-Woods fixes a garment on a model .
48 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JUNE 2023