By: Maddie Sexton
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – Students in the Apparel Merchandising and Product Development department are hosting their annual fashion show Enclothe, put on by the Bumpers College this Thursday, March 31st. The show will be held at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.
This year’s theme is Embody—and students were asked to design fashionable garments that showcase something they personally embody.
AMPD senior Chloe Gehring designed a dress that allows people with type one diabetes to easily give themselves shots without having to take it off. As a type one diabetic herself, Gehring knows exactly where shots need to be injected on the body.
“For my dress, its going to be embellished in the bodice, where I give myself shots, with crystal magnolias. It will also be embellished at the hand on the sleeve where I have to prick my finger every day.”
Gehring’s inspiration for the gown comes from the 1989 film Steel Magnolias. The main character of the movie Shelby, played by Julia Roberts, is a type one diabetic and suffers a hypoglycemic attack on her wedding day. Gehring elaborated how this dress would have allowed Shelby to give herself insulin at any moment, while also feeling beautiful on her wedding day.
“My piece is titled Steel Magnolias as an illusion to the movie. My garment is supposed to showcase how when you live a chronic illness you have to be strong as steel, but you also have moments where you are as delicate as a magnolia flower.”
Gehring, as well as other AMPD students have been working on their garments all semester long. The student-made pieces will be shown on the runway while the designer gives an impact statement on what their piece embodies.