By Jefferson Geiger
Wagner College's Costume Lab class is a prime example of how the college's close proximity to New York City benefits students. This spring, students took field trips to fashion destinations in NYC’s Garment District such as Mood Fabrics — featured on the popular reality TV show “Project Runway” — and Pacific Trimming.
Taught by Alan Michael Smith, the class teaches practical skills like how to sew and hem as well as gives students the opportunity to make alterations for theater productions. Smith has been coordinating these excursions for over a decade to expose students to the various linen, cotton, wool, silks and other textiles of the industry. As he shows them the care involved, students value what goes into constructing the costumes that they then wear onstage.
“Wagner College is so close to the city and you have all of these resources at your fingertips,” Smith said. “I want them to see what's available and what's possible, as opposed to just shopping online.”
Senior Sydney Kamakaiwi, a theater studies major from Hawaii, has enjoyed gaining practical knowledge and an appreciation of the work that goes into the costumes. Browsing the large shops with their bountiful inventory, she says, was overwhelming yet motivating.
“It was really inspiring to go to those stores,” Kamakaiwi said. “It made me want to grab whatever I wanted and just have fun with the fabrics.”
The class can be taken multiple times, with the subject matter tailored to students’ experience levels. Lia Shovlin, a theatre performance major, took the course for a second semester. She says she immediately wanted to repeat the class because of how much she learned while having fun, and enrolling again allowed her to hone her skills even more.
“Whether you're a beginner or you have lots of background in sewing, it's a really great class,” Shovlin said. “And I think that there's something to learn for everyone.”
