The University of Texas Spring Fashion Show

The designers of the spring show take a walk down the runway with their models.

Though the annual University of Texas Fashion Show has boasted attendances of over 5,000 people in the past, few are aware that the show is a yearlong effort that involves the work of designers, their instructors and the members of the University Fashion Group (UFG).

The show was first held in the Frank Erwin Center in 1997, and has primarily been a way to help senior textiles and apparel students to showcase the garments that they have worked on throughout the year, said UFG president Valerie Davila.

“The purpose of the show is to build a portfolio for the senior design majors and help them get a job,” she said.

After the show, designers often find themselves pursued by store and boutique owners who are interested in featuring the designers’ lines, Davila said.

The designers begin working on their lines for the show in the fall as a part of one of their senior design classes. The class covers the full repertoire of different designs that will be featured in the show, and gives the students deadlines to help guarantee that their clothes are finished in time. By April, the students are generally focusing on fitting the clothes on their models and adding finishing touches to the garments.

In addition to teaching, faculty members are there to support students and ensure that they manage their time well with their designs.

“I think it is most important for them to understand time management and how they want to finish the project on time and how they want to actually produce this garment,” said Ockhee Bego, a textiles and apparel instructor. “To me, anybody can design but how to execute your design into reality that is the part they really have to know how to process.”

Though the designers pay out of pocket for a significant portion of the raw materials needed for their designs, the University Co-Op allocates a certain amount of money for each designer, said design senior Lindsey Wetesnik. This year, the Co-Op gave each student $325, she said.

Organization of the models’ clothes and their hair and makeup for the show are also handled by UFG.

“For each model you have to put the clothing in order so that [the show] runs smoothly,” Davila said.

UFG then handles the logistics for the actual show, Davila said. One of their primary functions is to make sure that the show is marketed well.

“We really try to reach different radios, newspapers, magazines and blogs,” Davila said. “We want more people to get to know about the UT fashion show, so PR is a big thing.”

In addition, the group focuses largely on fundraising for the event. One of their more notable fundraisers is to sell scarves and flower pins made by UFG members and design students to other students and faculty members. In addition, UFG receives funding from the University Co-Op and other organizations on campus, such as Student Government, Davila said.

The technical aspects of the show, such as runway lighting, also fall on members of UFG. For example, the group’s art committee handles runway construction.

“Our art director has been painting floorboards, putting fabric on them and just trying different methods to see which ones will work,” Davila said. “For example, [the models’] shoes might scratch the runway so you have to find the most perfect way of painting it for whatever you have to do.”

As the work for the show comes to a close, those involved in its production are confident that it will be a success.

“We consider it to be the largest fashion show in Texas,” Davila said. “It just gets bigger and better every year.”