West Valley College student Thang Le Bach designed the simple, but elegant gowns worn by these models.




West Valley College fashion show focus is the new century

By Shari Kaplan

Just in time for the coming millennium, West Valley College presents "The Year 2000," its annual fashion show, May 7 at the WVC Campus Center, 14000 Fruitvale Ave.

The fashion show begins at 6 p.m. with a champagne reception at which those attending can meet the guests of honor, preview student fashions and designs and find their VIP seats. The reception includes a buffet dinner catered by the Mission College Hospitality Management program; Mission College belongs to the same community college district as West Valley.

The runway show takes place from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and features the introduction of distinguished guests from the fashion industry, innovative and creative designs by students from the West Valley College Fashion Design and Apparel Technology Department and the winners from a high school design competition. The Fashion Design and Apparel Technology Department uses a fully equipped computer lab to give students the same hands-on experience they would have in the fashion industry.

This year's featured guest designer is Jack O'Neill, the founder of O'Neill Sportswear, who was inspired to begin his business after designing a wetsuit for the cold Pacific waters of Santa Cruz. Professional surfers--as well as snowboarders--will model O'Neill wetsuits and snowboard outfits. Professional surfer Richard Schmidt will make a guest appearance.

"We wanted to expose our students to a 'soft goods' manufacturer, because the technology used in apparel manufacturing can be interchanged with the technology used in soft goods manufacturing," Kaee Min, chairperson of the WVC Fashion Design and Apparel Technology Department, says of the association with O'Neill.

Beginning at 8:30 p.m., the gallery exhibit opens, and will feature up-close-and-personal looks at fashion designs, projects from Fashion and Interior Design Department students and other related events.

Emcees for the evening are KRON-Channel 4 anchor Catherine Heenan and KNTV Channel 11 anchor Scott Budman. Tickets are $40 for the show and champagne reception or $15 for the show alone. For tickets or more information, call 741-4015 or visit www.wvmccd.cc.ca.us/wvc/fd on the Internet.

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