Jemicy School partners with Penn Mar for inclusive fashion show
A unique fashion show next week is giving some design students in Owings Mills a chance to see what life is like in the industry and teaches why it’s so important to keep their clients’ needs in mind. Students at the Jemicy School made some of the final fittings on Friday before a runway walkthrough. Fashion students put some of the finishing touches on their designs made specifically for their models for a special fashion show next week.”(It’s) one of the most fun parts because we get to see their faces, how they like it, how they don’t like it. We get to do more the design part, but with them, as a person,” said Leila Chan-Sweenie, a Jemicy School fashion design student.In December, Leila and 11 other fashion design students began creating adaptive clothing tailored to the needs of their models: 18 clients of Penn Mar, a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”We have, like, slip-on stuff, like, easy over the head, that’s easy to put on. My design this year will have like a big bow in the back, which is going to be Velcroed on, so it’s really easy to put on,” Leila told 11 News. “This year, we’re using cotton material, which is like sweatpants material, which makes it really fuzzy on the inside, fuzzy and cozy and comfortable for them, but it’s also stylish.”Leila’s mother, Tina Chan-Sweenie, is the associate director of development at Penn Mar and coordinates the program with Pauline Savage, the visual arts department chair at Jemicy School.”I think the student designers are absolutely amazing, when you can take the needs that we support, and translate that into extremely functional fashionable wear,” Tina Chan-Sweenie told 11 News.”They make clothes for people who actually need them and wear them, all of the sudden, there’s a level of meaning and purpose that goes beyond just making clothes for themselves,” Savage told 11 News.Next Friday, Jemicy and Penn Mar will host its third annual Inclusive Fashion Show, where models will get to strut down the runway. It’s a perfect partnership, as Jemicy is a school that specializes in education for students with dyslexia and other language-based differences. This experience is one reason why Leila said she wants to become a nurse.”I get to see their smiles. I get to see my hard work go into something and help feel someone feel confident, and that’s, like, the best part about it,” Leila told 11 News.The fashion show is open to the public on April 11. People can also watch it live online by visiting the following website.
A unique fashion show next week is giving some design students in Owings Mills a chance to see what life is like in the industry and teaches why it’s so important to keep their clients’ needs in mind.
Students at the Jemicy School made some of the final fittings on Friday before a runway walkthrough. Fashion students put some of the finishing touches on their designs made specifically for their models for a special fashion show next week.
“(It’s) one of the most fun parts because we get to see their faces, how they like it, how they don’t like it. We get to do more the design part, but with them, as a person,” said Leila Chan-Sweenie, a Jemicy School fashion design student.
In December, Leila and 11 other fashion design students began creating adaptive clothing tailored to the needs of their models: 18 clients of Penn Mar, a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“We have, like, slip-on stuff, like, easy over the head, that’s easy to put on. My design this year will have like a big bow in the back, which is going to be Velcroed on, so it’s really easy to put on,” Leila told 11 News. “This year, we’re using cotton material, which is like sweatpants material, which makes it really fuzzy on the inside, fuzzy and cozy and comfortable for them, but it’s also stylish.”
Leila’s mother, Tina Chan-Sweenie, is the associate director of development at Penn Mar and coordinates the program with Pauline Savage, the visual arts department chair at Jemicy School.
“I think the student designers are absolutely amazing, when you can take the needs that we support, and translate that into extremely functional fashionable wear,” Tina Chan-Sweenie told 11 News.
“They make clothes for people who actually need them and wear them, all of the sudden, there’s a level of meaning and purpose that goes beyond just making clothes for themselves,” Savage told 11 News.
Next Friday, Jemicy and Penn Mar will host its third annual Inclusive Fashion Show, where models will get to strut down the runway. It’s a perfect partnership, as Jemicy is a school that specializes in education for students with dyslexia and other language-based differences. This experience is one reason why Leila said she wants to become a nurse.
“I get to see their smiles. I get to see my hard work go into something and help feel someone feel confident, and that’s, like, the best part about it,” Leila told 11 News.
The fashion show is open to the public on April 11. People can also watch it live online by visiting the following website.
