What began as a simple portfolio assignment for fashion merchandising students from the Miami Fashion Institute at Miami Dade College materialized into a month-long public relations project supporting the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Well known for their work across the country funding breast cancer research, the foundation approached the Institute to collaborate on a t-shirt design. The midterm project, started last year, challenged the students to create a new look, and they went above and beyond to provide the foundation with a day of presentations related to re-branding – and they loved it. So much so, the foundation decided to create their entire fall campaign around a few of the ideas that were suggested. This included a runway show with gowns created by MFI design students using custom Susan G. Komen-logo printed fabric and a t-shirt styling session held at Westland Mall.
The foundation’s month-long series of awareness events culminated with the Pop of Pink Fashion Exhibition at the InterContinental at Doral Miami featuring a runway show where six MFI students presented their gown designs to an audience. All the money raised during the event benefited Susan G. Komen Miami/Ft. Lauderdale.
“The styles ranged from vintage inspired to avant-garde but all showcased the hard work and skill of a very talented group who donated their time and effort to raise funds for an always relevant cause that has affected many,” said MFI Professor Prisca Milliance.
The participating design students included Anna Moreno, Angeles Morales, Samantha Torres, Keven Gonzales, Ana Dalessio and Silvia Dardon. Merchandising students who coordinated the Westland Mall styling event were Elisa Ramirez, Jessica Villalon and Juan Polanco. The T-shirt designer was Vanessa Charles.