Sewing, headshots, fittings and daily rehearsals: all leading up to a single night. We’re not talking about a professional fashion show, but rather Evolution: Earl Haig’s Fashion Design Awards. With months of preparation and organisation behind one night, Earl Haig takes high school fashion to a whole new level.
“I’ve never limited myself to thinking [that] we should be working at a high school level. I look at [fashion show] as a piece of art, which should be the best it can be. We visualise and then apply it to our limits, as opposed to setting our visions based on our limitations,” says Evolution’s producer, Ivana Dizdar as we sit down with her co-producer Amanda Soha. When asked what sets Evolution apart, Amanda was quick to say, “Most other high schools don’t design or make their own clothes”. This is definitely something to take note of in Evolution. All the clothes are original designs, fitted specifically for the models and created entirely by our student designers. Soha and Dizdar emphasise how crucial this is.
“The designs are the most important aspect of the show”, says Amanda, “to be honest, in the past, the clothes themselves have been shafted, and people focused more on the dance.” Ivana agrees and adds, “Fashion is an art form, and the whole show is ultimately a fashion show, with other elements brought to it to make a total production.”
We then turned to another subject that is sure to be of interest: what are these other elements, and how might they add to the overall quality of Evolution? “It’s a fusion of everything, that people can look at and appreciate. No matter what artistic background they come from, they can appreciate an element. Some people do come to look at the dance and that’s fine, others come for the clothes. Hopefully, everyone will take out something from it and be able to enjoy. We want it to be memorable.”
It is doubtful that any student-run show this big could be easily forgotten. With a cast of ninety-six, Earl Haig’s Fashion Design Awards are easily one of the most demanding student productions at Earl Haig, making the role of producer a huge responsibility. “I’ve always been drawn to this big production, it allows for creative freedom,” exclaims Amanda.
While there are undoubtedly positive aspects to being a top-dog, with such responsibility comes a lot of work, particularly for two very involved grade twelves. “All of a sudden, when you’re producing you are the person who has to make everything happen. You have to imagine the show from the viewer’s perspective, but also think about all the details behind it,” explains Ivana, “I don’t overreact about the small things that much anymore, because I’ve gotten used to looking at the big picture…”
Seemingly insignificant things that the audience may not dwell upon require hours of work and an entire crew of people to make happen. “I didn’t realise how much work goes into the program,” Amanda says, as she exchanges a look with Ivana, “little things like that.”
In addition to organising the over ninety-person cast, and working on the “little things”, these producers are responsible for creating the theme of this year’s show. “You can interpret Evolution in a lot of different ways and that’s what I like. We were looking at the spark of a beginning, something being created,” Ivana reveals. “In the literal sense it applies to fashion, because of the evolution of fashion and history and the making of clothes. But also how evolution is part of everything and everyone, making it timeless, and universal.”
While fashion show definitely puts emphases on looking good, another important aspect is doing good and giving back to the community. Proceeds from this year’s performance will be going to “Project Corsage”, an organization that provides formal wear for high-school students who are unable to afford prom attire.
Although both girls acknowledge how much work they’ve put into the show, they also make it clear that they don’t take all the credit for the great production. “People here are not only good at what they do, but they commit. They’re put their heart and soul into their work. They work so hard for one night, and it shows,” Ivana says, elaborating on the student talent we see in the show. Amanda goes on to say, “I think I take it for granted, because we go to such an amazing school. I am impressed but not surprised. We have seen the talent here.”
