DALLAS, Jul 1, 1999/ FW/ --- Just by chance, I've been wondering about up-coming fashion. Detail minded as I am, I'm not talking about the fall line at Nieman Marcus. I'm talking about todays youth, who are now in trainning for fashion design careers. People who we may see in the years to come.

So in my curiosity, I made a trip to one of Dallas's Fashion Schools, the Art Institute of Dallas, which offers an Associate in Applied Arts Degree. It is a two-year course and can be finished in 7 quarters (21 months).

Donna Sapp, the Department Director for Applied Arts introduced me to several students who are in their first to the third quarter of their studies. She even brought me to a class which was already in session. True to the inherent Texas hospitality, they were more than polite, and did not mind me crashing their studies for this interview. And from what I had seen of their designs, I was very impressed with the talent they posses.

I met Natasha Ford who is from the Dallas area and attended the Dallas Arts Magnet High School, where she first got involved with Visual Arts and even did some modeling. Natasha wants to pursue a fashion design career and plans to move to the West Coast after graduation. She plans to design a line of eveningwear in the future.

There is Geri Alexander, from Oklahoma City who hopes to design costumes for movies; Sister Daniel Ikea, from Nigeria plans to move back home after her graduation and open a boutique to offer opportunities for other hopeful fashion designers in her country; Patricia Hegwood is from Louisiana and hopes to open a fashion/café someday; Chris Dresser, from Tulsa Oklahoma is a Fashion Forecasting hopeful; Lorie Irwin from Rockwall, Texas and would like to open custom apparel shop.

Instructor Anne Spurrier (right) briefs Geri Alexander on the day's lesson.

Anne Spurrier was teaching the class Draping, a technique used for mass production of garments following exact and specific measurements.

The technique involves draping material (fabric) over a dress form or mannequin. In places where the material bunches up the material is folded on itself and sewn down to form a flat surface. This becomes your pattern.

The sized pattern is laid flat on the designing paper, drawn and cut to size. This gives the blueprint for the garment and whatever type of material you will use for it. The sized pattern is then used to actually trace over the material/fabric and form it. The finished product forms a well fitted garment, measured to exact specifications.

After spending time with just one class, I realized it would be impossible to interview everyone there. I have no doubt that there were talents I didn't meet. From the handful whom I met so far, I know that he Art Institute will turn out some of the finest graduates in the Industry. We all can hold our breath until we see their goals and bright futures form in the shape of the clothes we all wear.

The Art Institute of Dallas
Two Northpark 8080 Park Lane
Dallas, Texas
Tel: (214) 692-8080