HOPE – Something is afoot in Lauren Crane’s Clothing and Textiles class at Hope High School… literally.\r\n
\r\nCrane’s students have been working on a design concept project since the start of classes this month that may lead to the successor to Nike Air Jordan or Adidas NMD sneaker styles. Each student has designed a style of sneaker and created a life-sized mockup of the shoe from a common pattern.\r\n
\r\nCrane said the project teaches important elements of design concept.\r\n
\r\n“As far as the assignment goes, this unit we have started goes over the principles and elements of design,” she said. “I felt like this assignment was a great way to practice that and learn to recognize which those elements are in line, color, shape, etc.”\r\n
\r\nWith a degree in Apparel Studies from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville conferred in 2008, Crane has more than academics in her background to teach the concept.\r\n
\r\n“During college, I completed a professional internship at Walt Disney World Entertainment, where I worked in Creative Costuming as a costuming assistant,” she said. “I have always loved costuming, clothing design and sewing and I am excited about sharing and teaching my students those things.”\r\n
\r\nThat attitude seems to have spread to Crane’s students as they worked with the shoe pattern to create a life-sized, 3D product that reflected their particular sense of style, color and form in something that might reasonably be considered as a marketable product.\r\n
\r\n“After they complete their shoe, they will write about the process it took to create their shoe; which elements of design were used; and, if they were to market their shoe, how they would do it, and who would be the demographic they marketed it to,” Crane said.\r\n
\r\nThe course is designed to develop skills for decision-making as a clothing consumer, and to understand the role of clothing and textiles in the general economy, she said. Principles of design, fabric selection, sewing and clothing construction technique, as well as legal and regulatory considerations in the textile industry are also explored.\r\n
\r\n“As far as the designs on the shoes, each student was given the freedom to be creative and imaginative when it came to their shoe design, while keeping in mind the principles and elements of design,” Crane said.\r\n
\r\nThe shoe fits for some students.\r\n
\r\n“I have heard several students express interest to me already about wanting to pursue a career in the clothing industry,” Crane said. “The great thing about Arkansas is that there are lots of opportunities to achieve those dreams here in our own state, due to companies like Walmart and Dillards.”\r\n
\r\nAs to Crane’s own experience in design reality at Disney, she worked in the Magic Kingdom Team, which was responsible for design and execution of costuming for all of the employees in the huge complex of theme parks and resorts involved in the shoes, parades and “streetmosphere” experiences.\r\n
\r\n“We had to work as a team to meet quick deadlines for shows and rehearsals, but at the same time we had to prepare way in advance for some shows,” she said. “At Disney, they are working on Christmas at the start of summer. Our team put the finishing touches on the new costume builds.”\r\n
\r\nThat included making new clothing look older and worn for effect for a Pirates of the Caribbean show.\r\n
\r\n“A team member and myself had to make the brand new costumes look old, and like a pirate had worn them every day for two years,” she said. “I hope to bring that same creativity and ingenuity to my clothing class by giving my students hands-on experiences and letting them figure out how to, as Tim Gunn from ‘Project Runway’ says, ‘Make it work.’”\r\n
