Three Lancaster High School students in the Erie 1 BOCES Fashion Design Technology program, Nadia Hyrkco, Tavia Massino and Destinie Morales, will show off their fashion designs on the runway during the 2023 FUSION Fashion Show: Lust For Life.
The FUSION Fashion Show, which has been running since 2009, will take place on Thursday, March 30 and will showcase the work of 14 high school fashion students from across Western New York. The theme for this year’s show, Lust For Life, was developed by students, who said they wanted to live life passionately after facing disruptions to their academic and personal lives.
Nadia said she wanted to make clothes that she would love to wear, and that she found inspiration in watching fashion shows.
“They inspire me because I see all these outfits that these people have designed and made, I always think I could do that,” Nadia said.
Tavia said she was inspired to design clothes based on her own struggles trying to purchase clothing that fit.
“Making your own clothes that you actually like is a very fulfilling experience,” Tavia said.
Destinie said she found inspiration from things like her friends, family and music as she developed her work.
“Every aspect of life around me brings inspiration to keep creating,” Destinie said.
The annual show has become a fixture for multiple Erie 1 BOCES programs, who support each other to ensure the success of the show. That includes Barbering and Cosmetology program students who prepare participating models, along with Criminal Justice students that assist with security for the evening. The Digital Media program has created posters and tickets for the show and will record the live show, the Collision Repair program will paint the event’s backdrop and the Building Trades program will build the show’s runway and stage.
The two-year Fashion Design Technology program at Erie 1 BOCES’ Harkness Career & Technical Center teaches students how to dress, style and create trends based on design elements and the fashion cycle. Students in the program also develop business plans as a part of their studies, setting them up for future success.
This year's show will take place on March 30 at Sto Lat Event Center, located in the Eastern Hills Mall, 4545 Transit Rd, Williamsville, N.Y. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the show will begin at 7 p.m. For more information about the show, including a livestream of the evening, visit https://www.e1b.org/en/k-12-education-programs/fusion-2023.aspx.
