Students Showcase Clothes and Food to Raise Funds

Colton High School’s (CHS) second Passion for Fashion dinner and show was held on Dec. 13. The show featured fashions from the school’s home economics class and food from the food and nutrition class. Students from the French and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) club also helped put the event together along with students from the scholarship program, FHA-Hero. Following the event's French theme, Eiffel Towers flanked both sides of the stage and the French Club opened the event with a brief history of French fashion icons like Coco Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Models came from the FIDM club on campus. “We encourage them to work together,” said fashion and technology teacher, Deborah Spencer. “We like that this event allowed them to do that.” Kathleen Dickerson, the food and nutrition teacher at CHS and faculty supervisor with Spencer, agreed that it was nice to have the help of other clubs. “We start planning this event in August but the real work began four weeks ago," she said. "Last year was very successful but the extra help allowed things to run more smoothly.” Dickerson and her students contributed to the night by providing dinner and dessert made entirely from hand. The meal was also French inspired and featured Quiche Lorraine (made with bacon, onions, and Swiss cheese) and pound cake topped with a raspberry and lemon crème sauce. There was also a salad with handmade vinaigrette dressing and a selection of drinks. “We (Dickerson and Spencer) both play a big part in it,” said Spencer. “It’s nice to see the kids get into it as well.” “I think once they see this they get really excited,” added Dickerson, pointing at the lighted runway and covered tables. “I mean, this is a school cafeteria! They aren’t used to seeing it like this.” Dickerson and Spencer were not alone in their effort; they also had the help of senior Lucinda Ceniceros, president of FHA-Hero. “I’m in charge of the money, I need to speak before the event and I am partly helping with the serving,” she said, while directing volunteers in the kitchen. “Last year was crazy but with the help from the food and nutrition class and the other clubs, everything was very balanced. It was much neater.” Like the food, the clothing was made by hand. The students took old clothes and redesigned them into something new. The process is called “upcycling," said Spencer. Outfits included a dress made from two other dresses, a tie-dye shirt and vests made from men’s ties with designers ranging from grades freshman to senior. All proceeds from the event go towards the home economics classes and scholarships for FHA-Hero.