Open House at UCFV features award-winning fashion designs

Absolute Style 2001, the annual open house and fashion show at the University College of the Fraser Valley, will showcase the work of the graduating class including three students who have received Canada-wide recognition recently for their designs.

Sabina Kasprzak has been selected as a finalist in the Smirnoff Fashion Awards 2001 competition, the largest designer competition in the world. Fifteen finalists were chosen from over 500 entries across Canada. The awards ceremony takes place in Toronto on May 31.

"This is stiff competition," says UCFV fashion design instructor Judy Hurley. "We're very proud of Sabina. She's extremely talented, and also versatile and resourceful."

Kasprzak, a graduate of Sardis Secondary, is completing her diploma program at UCFV this year and plans to go on to Ryerson Polytechnic University to complete a Bachelor of Fashion Design degree.

"I've loved fashion design, since I was a little kid," says Kasprzak. "I was so surprised when my designs were picked for the Smirnoff competition. It's a very big honour."

Jamie Degroot and Tanya Hall received honourable mentions in Style magazine's illustration contest, and along with the other 10 finalists will be featured in the May edition of the magazine. The 12 finalists were chosen from more than 150 submissions from fashion design students across Canada.

Degroot is also a Sardis Secondary grad and Hall graduated from D.W. Poppy in Langley. Both students are in their second year of the Fashion Design program.

The open house takes place on Thursday, April 26, from noon until 5:30 p.m., in building A at the UCFV Abbotsford campus. The open house also features a graphic design display next to the fashion design area. The graphic design work, from the foundation year of the program, will be on display from April 24–26.

The afternoon fashion show is sold out but there are still a few tickets left for the evening fashion show at the Inn at King's Crossing.

"This year's outfits include evening wear, funky club wear using technofabrics, classic day wear, and a couple of very sophisticated avant garde outfits," says Hurley.

"Lots of wearable art which is always popular, and handwoven and machine-knitted garments as well. We've got some neat millinery and very theatrical pieces this year too."

The open house is free. Tickets for the fashion show are $20. Call Gayle Ramsden at 604.854-4573 or 604.792-0025, local 4573, for tickets.

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