Skaters take to the ice

BELCHERTOWN - The catwalk was crawling with creativity at Belchertown High School Friday, as 17 students demonstrated their fashion designing ability during BHS Project Runway '07, a competition conceived and coordinated by the school's chapter of the National Art Honor Society.

But expensive fabrics and garish accessories were not part of the show. For their designs, the high school students were limited to using paper or a single bed sheet and were prohibited from using commercial fasteners such as buttons and zippers. Seventeen student designers participated.

What had once been a light turquoise bed sheet with gold details was transformed by student Aubree Mercure to classic straight dress with spaghetti straps, shawl and cummerbund-style belt accented with a sewn flower clasp. She won first place and a $500 savings bond.

Mercure said she started thinking about the design over Christmas vacation, when in California she spotted a dress she really liked but could not buy. She added her personal touches, and she carefully chose the sheet color and pattern, Mercure said.

"I really wanted it to accent her eyes, her hair and her skin tone," she said of her model, Sarah Minney.

Then she had to learn how to sew, something she had never done before. "I had to practice a whole lot," Mercure said.

"I've never worn paper clothes before," said Jamie Peck, a 10th-grader, but her first time was rewarding. Peck took second place and a $100 cash prize.

She made an evening dress with Art in America magazine covers and chains of chewing gum wrappers for straps, because the designs and colors were interesting, Peck said. She used metallic tissue paper for a bright fringe at the hem and folded Starburst wrappers into a flower at her waist.

"I just love designing clothes," said Parisa Soleimani, a senior. "It's hard but it's fun."

She looked through fashion magazines for ideas and, with her mother's sewing help, used a sheet to make a black dress with a silver waist bow and painted silver detailing at the knee-high hem. "It took me eight hours to paint it," said Soleimani.

Making her vision into reality was the great satisfaction, she said. Soleimani won the audience choice award. About 250 people attended the show.

Julia Grabazs said she likes being artistic and creative but had never designed clothes before. She was one of seven finalists. "It's a new challenge and I love challenges," said the 10th-grader. Grabazs used black interfacing, a textured paper used in shirt collars that has some cloth-like qualities, and silver Mylar to make a short halter dress with wide vertical black and silver stripes and origami-like folding to tie together in the back. The Mylar, she said, was difficult to sew because it tears easily.

Sandy Smith, Florence Savings Bank branch manager, was one of five judges. "You can tell they put a lot of their own personalities into it and a lot of effort too," Smith said.