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The Junior League of Las Vegas is a an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. One of the annual projects that the Junior League of Las Vegas offers is called Fashion Forward. Fashion Forward is a fashion design program for students in the Clark County School District. The students compete to create garments that fall within specific guidelines within a restricted time frame, donated materials and specific theme. Their designs are judged in a final runway show. In March of 2014, 9 schools walked the runway at Fashion Show mall and 5 judges crowned Huilin Chen as first place winner of the “Vintage Vegas” themed competition. This junior in High School aspires to complete high school and attend the School of Fashion at Parsons in New York. Huilin designed a lime green pencil dress with a removable fuchsia skirt that hits below the knee. The chest piece is feathers made from her fuchsia fabric. Her current inspiration is Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits, Rei Kawakubo, and Harajuku street fashion. When asked who her style icon is, she had a wonderful response: “Ordinary people. It’s more interesting to see how people build their own style instead of following icons in the industry. Through them, I pick out things I like and incorporate it into my own style.”

With the hard work from Junior League of Las Vegas, donated materials from Star Costume and Theatrical Supply, and a Sponsorship from IADT (including their Pretty For Prom program) this High school student is one step closer to receiving the recognition that she deserves which is why we were thrilled to have her in the Altf Studio to model her winning design.  Icing on the cake?  Judge and Prize sponsor, Molly Gaddy-Walters of ARTIFACT has offered up space in her store at Town Square mall for this talented designer to display her winning piece and sell some of her designs!  She will be showcased in September so be sure to swing by and pick up some of her one-of-a-kind pieces sold only at ARTIFACT!
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See the slideshow from the event here!
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