Students fashion their own magazine

Students from across campus, representing 20-plus majors, joined forces with their peers in fashion and apparel studies this spring to create the eighth issue of the magazine UDress.

With the theme “Imagination,” the 40-page magazine encouraged readers to imagine fashion as art. It included fashion trends, stylish photos and tips from industry professionals.

The cover photo, taken in the conservatory of Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square, Pa., featured model Wagener (Gigi) Sangari, AS ’09. Sangari, an international relations major who is planning on law school and
then a career with the United Nations, has done professional modeling work in off-the-runway shows for designers including Tommy Hilfiger.

Sangari’s vibrant green dress was designed by Julia Christie-Robin, CHEP ’08, who used 13 yards of silk taffeta and inspiration from the arts and crafts movement to create the gown. The cover photo was taken by UDress photo director Griffin Lotz, AS ’10.

The magazine is produced twice a year by the student organization UDress, founded in 2006. Involved in all aspects of the publication, the nearly 100 student members get real-world experience in such fields as writing, marketing, photography, fashion design, graphic design, selling of advertisements, magazine production and fundraising.

Students who contributed to the latest issue represent a range of areas of study: apparel design, fashion merchandising, visual communication, communication, history, English, marketing management, Spanish, business, business and technical writing, animal and food sciences, business administration, marketing, international business, education, biological sciences, French, leadership, music, human services administration, public policy, elementary education, art history and fine arts.

“It really is an amazing example of students getting together to produce a very professional product that makes use of what they are learning and that also celebrates UD,” says Tim Barnekov, then dean of the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy.

UDress also helps support the international nonprofit organization Dress for Success, which promotes the independence of low-income women by providing them with professional clothing, interview training and other services.

More information about the student fashion magazine is available at [www.udressmag.com].