THE BIG REVEAL!

Brenda Rojas-Hampton and Ali Rochford share the backstory and the process: 

How does the fashion show theme come about?

"It starts with a very organic conversation with the students," Ms. Rochford explained. "We talk through it. It's your show. What are you thinking? What do you want? What do you envision? The fabrics? The colors?" 

Trending themes begin to emerge from these discussions throughout the five 12th grade Fashion Design classes (comprised of 120 students) which includes one "full steam ahead" Fashion Design Honors class taught by Brenda Rojas-Hampton. This class is strictly limited to 25 seats. Audition in the Junior year is required.

Once the top five or six themes take form, Ms. Rochford creates mood boards that capture the overall aesthetic for each one, along with a synopsis. Mood boards are reviewed and discussed. Students then get two days to vote (in a Google form) for the fashion show theme.

"The Director's Cut" was a new theme this year and the clear cut winner, with "Candy Wonderland" coming in second, which has been a recurring theme.

Ms. Rojas-Hampton explained what comes next, along with some of the fashion show specifics that go on in her Honors class:

"I begin polling the Honors students to choose which director in their aesthetic they want to do. They do slideshows and a treatment," she explained. We deep dive to synthesize it. Absorb it. They have to absorb it and so do I. Then they do a vote on what will be the first collection. It has to be cohesive. Also! The Honors class has multiple moving parts: Junk Couture and Swarovski --  surface design with the stones for Swarovski, and sustainability for Junk Couture. Ideally, we get them to work into the theme. If they don't jive into the aesthetic, they become finale pieces. These are typically avant garde, so they often work well to finish the show."

Is there more than one director in "The Director's Cut?"

Ms. Rochford shared how it works. "Each teacher has their own style and approach to how they land on a director. In one class, two different films are being focused on for one director." 

Once directors are chosen, there will be think tank sessions in each classroom. The operative word is "inspiration."

Ms. Rochford continued, "If a class, for example, chooses Tim Burton, they may draw upon a range of his films. "The director is your muse. You are to focus on that person's work. We don't want costumes. It's an interpretation of what that director's style means to you. It can be based on a specific film. But it needs to be cohesive."

Putting an emphasis on "Adaptable Clothing"

One new addition to the 2027 Fashion Show that both Ms. Rojas-Hampton and Ms. Rochford are excited about is including "Adaptable Clothing" in the Fashion Show. It was inspired by DK, a senior, and Ravi, a junior, who both use wheelchairs. 

"We have these beautiful kids in our school. We need to showcase them," Ms. Rochford said. "Every kid has a say. We want them included in this world." 

Ali Rochford is Fashion Show Coordinator at HSFI for the past seven years. 

Brenda Rojas-Hampton is an HSFI Alum, Class of 1992, Fashion Show Coordinator and teaches the Honors Fashion Design class. She will celebrate teaching 10 years at HSFI this December. Most of the students in Ms. Rojas-Hampton's Honors class go on to FIT, Parsons, and SCAD, and not only for fashion design -- interior design, jewelry design, accessories design are among some of the other related areas her students have gone on to pursue as career paths.

Ms. Belinda David, Ms. Alexandra Parisse, Mr. Kareem Knights, and Mr. Gil Torres complete the esteemed team of Fashion Design department teachers who work on the fashion show throughout the year. Sneak peeks into their classrooms to come.

Fashion Design is one of six highly specialized HSFI majors led under the direction of Ms. Kate Boulamaali, Assistant Principal of the CTE (Career and Technical Education) program.

The annual Fashion Show at the High School of Fashion Industries has been a tradition since 1956.