'Better Together' the theme for this year's St. Vincent de Paul 'Retrofittings' fashion show

DAAP students interviewed by Local 12 on preparations for Oct. 24 event

The date for the 2024 St. Vincent de Paul Retrofittings Fashion Show has been set for Oct. 24 and design students at UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) are already working to hone their skills for the big reveal that night at Music Hall.

"They get some insight into how a runway show works, they're also working more collaboratively than they have before," instructor Stephanie Wood told Local 12.

"They're given a specific prompt and now they're connected with the industry and community partners. So it's a big stepping stone for them," Wood said in the interview.

For almost two decades, UC’s School of Design at DAAP and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) have collaborated on the annual fashion show A runway show where UC fashion design majors craft garments solely from pre-loved items they selected from SVDP thrift stores with a meager stipend (approximately $20 this year).

Students are then tasked with designing garments to a theme.

Local 12 also interviewed two students — out of 45 —now working on designs for the 2024 “Better Together” theme.

Proceeds from the fashion show go to benefit SVDP. The 2023 show raised over $200,000. The joint effort also aligns with Fashion for Good, a global initiative to inspire change and drive the collective movement to make fashion a force for good.

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