Officials with the Capital Repertory Theatre are pulling back the curtain on costuming and fashion for a trio of aspiring fashion designers at Capital Region BOCES.
Career and Technical Education Global Fashion Studies seniors Sophia Berlin, Faith Coates and Piper Zurmuhlen are taking part this fall in work-based learning with the Albany theater group.
“We are creating vests that will be added to their costume wardrobe,” said Berlin, who attends BOCES from the Bethlehem Central School District.
Berlin, Zurmuhlen and Coates spent a week in October at the theater and will return in December for another week.
In the meantime, teacher Chloe Perazzelli said the students are researching 1870s men’s vests and creating design boards that will then be turned into vests using a pattern provided by Capital Repertory officials. The students are adding their personal designs to the works and will present their final products to the theater group in December.
“It is interesting to see the adjustments made to fashion for theatrical purposes,” said Coates, who attends BOCES from Berne-Knox-Westerlo Hogh School. “For example, in the interest of quick changes they use Velcro or snaps and then put button overtop to make it look real, even though the buttons aren’t used.”
Zurmuhlen and Berlin said she too is enjoying the work.
“I am learning a lot about costuming and it was really interesting to see their costume room and learn what they do,” said Zurmuhlen, who attends BOCES from the Schenectady City School District.
“I am interested in costuming so it is nice to learn how the fashion of theater is different than retail fashion and how adjustments are made to meet the needs of theater,” Coates added.
Perazzelli said the work-based learning provides a special opportunity for the students.
“Capital Rep offers a unique opportunity for students to see the theater industry and specifically costume design. Students gain insight into the design process, work in the studio with experts and understand the process of designing for a show. We are extremely grateful to the team members for taking the time to work with our students,” she said.
Students in the Capital Region BOCES Global Fashion program study creative design and core business concepts and apply them to the world of fashion. They also learn about careers in fashion, merchandising, marketing, fashion drawing, textiles, how to use a sewing machine, foundation pattern making and sewing skills while taking part in work-based learning opportunities at area shopping malls to learn visual display and merchandising.
For more information on the program, go to https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/global-fashion-studies/ .