Despite Collide-O-Scope being just over a month away, stress levels in Lethbridge College’s sewing and drafting labs are low. Planning and production are going smoothly.
Brenda Low, fashion design and marketing instructor, explains that students are on track with their work.
“They are in the middle of creating their jacket and pants for tailoring, which is the Don Cherry theme (and) in haute couture they’re designing and creating their show spectacular garments.”
While students are underway with those projects, they also have the option to create their own clothing line for the event.
“This year there’s a lot of individual lines and they’re amazingly on schedule,” says Low. “They’re really doing well.”
Apart from designing outfits for the show, second-year students also have responsibilities that include choosing the music for the show, working as stage managers, creating the look for models’ hair and make-up, and scheduling the show order.
“We have four weeks of classes left, so everyone’s really working hard to make sure everything comes together,” says Low. “I’m really impressed with this year’s group.”
With only one month left to get everything ready for the big night, students aren’t letting stress get to them. Brittany Harrison, second-year fashion design and marketing student, explains time management is important, especially when there is so much to do.
“It’s pretty much making sure that you time everything out good so you won’t be stressed a few days before the show.”
Jessica Santos, in her third year, explains the stress levels just haven’t hit her yet.
“Right now, they’re not so bad because I’m thinking ‘It’s far away, it’s fine,’ but I bet starting in April (stress levels) will start to hike up.”
Despite the stress and heavy workload, Santos and Harrison feel an event like Collide-O-Scope is vital for gaining real industry experience and providing a sense of purpose.
“If anything, when Collide-O-Scope is on and everyone is watching the clothes go out and it’s absolute chaos backstage – that’s when you realize this is what you live for and this is why you’re here,” says Santos.
“It’s kind of like an addiction,” Harrison adds. “It’s so stressful but then when you’re done, you just want to do it again.”