By Diana Cavagnaro
Fashion Redux 2022 is a collaboration between the San Diego History Center and San Diego Mesa College. This is the 12th year that they come together for this incredible project. Each year, a decade in history is chosen and the History Center presents four garments in its history collection for design students to use as inspiration to create contemporary design. This year the chosen decade was the 1940s.
Students are initially invited to come to the History Center and view the inspiring pieces. Next, they create an inspiration board, draft a sketch, and then a designer statement. This year the three best chosen students were Hanieh Etedali with Back to the ’40s, Ena Walters with A Wink Back-’40s and Cynthia Moreno with Flirty Forties Follies.
Cynthia Moreno, People’s Choice Award Winner
On April 28, a virtual Fashion Redux event was held with Collection Specialist Jeremy Prince and Development Manager Sheila Thomas of the History Center and Mesa College Fashion Professor Jordyn Smiley. Smiley did a wonderful presentation and slide show on 1940’s fashion, which was divided into two sections. The dress of the first years was very utilitarian since the women began to work and began to wear pants. The second half saw a more feminine form develop as restrictions were lifted. We saw the rise of American designers and Dior’s New Look in 1947.
Designer Ena Walters
During this virtual event there was a panel discussion with the top three design students. Each spoke about their conception of their contemporary creations and then a vote was held for the People’s Choice Awards. The winner was Cynthia Moreno. Moreno said she was inspired by little details like fabric-covered buttons, pleated fabric and a fabric-covered belt. She wanted to create a dress that felt feminine, sexy, and elegant. This midi dress she created featured ruching under the bust and a high side slit with fabric-covered buttons and tie closures. The prize she won was a one-year membership to the History Center and a $100 gift certificate to Sewing Machines Plus.
Designer Hanieh Etedali
For more information about Mesa College, visit sdmesa.org. The San Diego History Center opened an exhibit on April 15 featuring the four garments from its collection plus the three inspirational garments from Mesa College design students. They can currently be seen Friday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm in Balboa Park. For more information, visit sandiegohistory.org.
Upcoming events
Virtual Fashion Show – Presented by the San Diego Mesa College Fashion Department on Friday, May 14. For information, contact instructor Gretchen Bergman at (619) 670-9880.
Bend, twist, tie – This is an exhibit of Moses’ Paper Bag Hat at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. Open from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday Wednesday and from 10 am to 8 pm on Thursday and Friday. The exhibition will be open until October 2. In conjunction, there will be a talk by Diana Cavagnaro on hats at Coffee and Conversation, which will take place on June 24 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at the Frances Hamilton White Art Library. .
— Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned haute couture milliner based in Alpine, California. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher, and blogger at www.DianaCavagnaro.com.
Source: sandiegodowntownnews.com