Orange Coast College’s “RE/GENERATION: A Celebration of Art and Fashion” event highlighted sustainable fashion and environmental awareness with a showcase of upcycled, student-designed garments, a scholarship award ceremony, second-hand marketplace, live music and interactive art exhibits.
The event, organized by the OCC Fashion Department in collaboration with the Salvation Army, took place at the Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion on April 23.
OCC fashion design and apparel construction major Brendan Valdez displayed his creations made from donated materials as part of a collaboration with the Salvation Army.
“I’m doing an outdoor market for OCC in collaboration with the Salvation Army,” Valdez said. “I’m showcasing outfits I made from things they donated for us to rework. There’s going to be a scholarship reward later in the day.”
Now in his third year at OCC, Valdez praised the program for its focus on real-world experience.
“They want students to find jobs in their career and build the technical knowledge they need,” Valdez said. “They give us opportunities to test selling clothes to people, do events and reward us with scholarships and program benefits.”
Katie Connor, an instructor in OCC’s fashion department and alumna of the college, highlighted the program’s diverse offerings.
“We offer certificates in construction, merchandising, and production – all types of things,” Connor said.
She also recommended the ‘Intro to Fashion’ class for prospective students.
“It gives an overview of everything available in the fashion world, with guest speakers and field trips to explore different opportunities,” Connor said.
Connor also operates her own reselling business.
“I’ve been doing this for 10 years, so I do this and then when we have events, I usually bring some stuff out,” Connor said.
Cooper Tomasick, a business major and supporter of OCC’s fashion department, brought a vintage perspective to the event. His booth featured menswear from the 1940s to the 1980s, with diverse styles for all.
“I know women love to rock, and anybody can rock the jackets, shirts, even the pants I sell,” Tomasick said. “Back in the 1940s through the 1970s, most things were made in America with higher-quality materials like cotton, wool, and early polyesters like Dacron. These items were handmade, designed to last, and had a sense of history.”
Tomasick mentioned merging fashion and business.
“It’s fun. I get to curate what I want to show off and give a cool vibe to my booth,” Tomasick said.
Also in attendance was Ginger Lujan, a homeschooled student planning to join OCC’s fashion program in the fall.
Lujan participated in the upcycle challenge, wearing a piece she had created herself.
“I thrift a lot and tailor clothes to myself or my friends. I even recently made my friend’s prom dress,” Lujan said.
Michelle Lujan, her mother, noted Ginger’s self-driven approach.
“She’s taken a few classes just to learn basics, but she does a lot independently,” Michelle Lujan said. “She looks up videos on how to finish things and tailor items she finds to make them unique.”
