This wall was designed by the architecture students at West Valley College. It was inspired by the color palettes, and fabrications, from the runway collections designed by the fashion students.

It’s always exciting when I learn about local fashion. It’s even more exciting when I learn about fashion happening within walking distance of my house. Our local community college, West Valley College, has an fabulous art school which offers students certificate and associate degree programs in many areas of art. The West Valley College Cilker School of Art and Design is an extremely creative learning environment which helps transform students, and prepare them for careers in visual arts, performing arts, and design.

The fashion design and apparel technology program is an amazing program which prepares students for modern careers in fashion design, and apparel production. West Valley College is a recognized leader in technology training for the apparel and manufacturing industry. This is an exciting and affordable way to learn the ins and outs of the ever-changing fashion industry. Love that!

I was invited to attend West Valley College’s annual fashion show named “Alchemy,” by Content Magazine. Content Magazine is a chic, local magazine which highlights Silicon Valley’s creative culture, local arts and events, and our innovation. It’s a great way to learn about everything you need to know about Silicon Valley’s art industry. I was honored to be a guest of Content Magazine, and also to be introduced to West Valley College’s fashion program!

The designers from West Valley College’s Cilker School of Art and Design are extremely talented. I could easily see many of the designs on the runway make their way to department stores such as Nordstrom, and then end up being well loved on the street. There was a variety of daily street wear, athleisure, vintage inspiration, multi-cultural inspiration, and red carpet ready couture. The design and quality of workmanship rivaled what we see on the New York runways, and in many cases, surpassed it! All of these designers should be proud of their work; these collections could easily grace the runways of New York and become highly coveted in an instant.

West Valley College’s student designers are Britney Bliven, Lina Egutkina, Peter Esparza, Rita Hernandez, Natasha Khanna, Maria Lee, Wing Hung Lo, Nicole Markelz, Lorrie McPheeters, Dipti Nichani, Lakshimi Uma Rachakonda, Grecia Rivera, Jonathon San Juan, and Hiroko Widlow. The special guest designer, show producer, and creative director of the evening was Joseph Domingo who is a local, San Francisco designer who has shown at LA Fashion Week, and is an alum of West Valley College.

To learn more about the West Valley College Cilker School of Art and Design, please visit WestValley.edu.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy