The Student Fashion Association of Sacramento State is hosting its fashion show every semester to not only showcase the talents of family and consumer science majors, but to promote local boutiques in the Sacramento area as well.

The show, “Spring into Fashion,” will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the University Union Ballroom. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the Red Cross for Haiti relief.

Natasia Berry, senior apparel marketing and design major, said many feel as if they have to travel to larger cities to find trendy fashion. Instead of going to places like San Francisco and Los Angeles, she said, just visit the local boutiques and see what the Sacramento community has to offer.

“People feel that Northern California isn’t the best place for the fashion industry,” Berry said. “By having this fashion show, we are saying to the Sac State campus and the surrounding community that fashion is right here in town.”

The designers of the fashion show, Berry said, are members of the Student Fashion Association who have a passion for designing their own garments and who want to go into future careers in the fashion industry.

“These are extremely talented individuals who are showing Sac State that they have just as much talent as those fancy schools devoted to just design,” Berry said. “That’s why we host a fashion show every semester and broadcast ourselves – to show are talents when it comes to the fashion industry.”

Spring into Action will be composed of 13 designers, all students from Sac State. The designers have their own collection with garments they have created from scratch, Berry said.

“From choosing the concept and creating the design, the students did it all,” Berry said. “Every garment you are going to see is made by hand.”

Berry said audience members can expect a variety of outfits ranging from cocktail dresses to garments with many embellishments.

“There is a designer who has sewn over 100 little flower petals to a garment that they created,” Berry said. “These students have put so much time and details into their pieces.”

Maria Serquen, junior apparel marketing and design major, said she is looking forward to the one-of-a-kind pieces the students are creating.

“From safety pins to flowers, these students are finding ways to put these garments together by using very creative materials,” Serquen said. “The designers’ lines are so diverse; it’s nice to see such different clothing lines on the runway.”

One piece Berry is looking forward is a garment that was inspired by art paintings.

“One student designer actually hand painted a design on a bomber jacket,” Berry said. “It’s so interesting to see how they incorporated art with fashion.”

As for inspiration for the styles of the pieces, Berry said the members gained inspiration from the three local boutiques in Sacramento: Krazy Mary’s, Sugar Shack and Tres Chic.

“Our designers are working with these boutiques to get inspiration and see the trends,” Berry said. “I’m sure the boutiques can learn a thing-or-two about the new garments as well.”

By having these boutiques participate in this event, Berry said, the Student Fashion Association hopes to promote business for these local businesses.

“Retail stores are really relevant to the fashion industry and we are just trying to promote our local boutiques, especially in the current economic situation,” Berry said.

Besides the boutiques, another business that is attending the fashion show is Art-ifex. Berry said this Sacramento-based company specializes in hand-made jewelry.

“This is a local business that we are trying to promote by featuring their merchandise in our show,” Berry said. “The owner is a student at Sac State and we want to showcase her talents as well.”

Berry said the show is not limited to designers and the pieces they make, but will also showcase the talents of stylists.

She said the Paul Mitchell Salon and its student stylists will be doing the hair and make-up of the models.

“All aspects of the show, from the designers to the stylists, revolve around students,” Berry said. “That is what our goal of the show is – to showcase the talents of our students and show what they have to offer.”

Serquen said this semester’s fashion show will exhibit just how the Student Fashion Association has improved over the past couple of years.

“We have evolved and each year the show gets better and better,” Serquen said. “Hopefully this year we can continue to show that our apparel marketing and design students are very talented for having such a limited use of resources.”

Erin Rogers can be reached at [email protected]