Written by Elle Douglas

Photos of the kids from the Boys and Girls Club Fremont Unit by Nia Harrison

As a fashion fanatic myself, I grew up wanting a space to learn about all things fashion. When I started my position as a YDP (Youth Development Professional) at the Boys and Girls Club last July, I was faced with an initial question, “what clubs can you start based on your hobbies and interests?” I knew I wanted to start a fashion club. 

Fashion Club is a group consisting of ten brilliant third through fifth graders who study for one hour every Friday. Every one of our fashion club members are gifted in almost every aspect of fine arts. These ten kids are our Boys and Girls Club artists, performers, and most importantly, fashionistas. Each student was assigned the task of studying and implementing said knowledge into a portfolio to display at the end of the semester. I was astonished at how bright these kids are and how passionate they were about their projects. I wanted to take it a step further by throwing them a fashion show along with a studio photoshoot. The plan was to team up with Sartorial to make this happen.

What Club Members Learned 

Before starting anything, I taught the kids basic fashion merchandising. They had to learn the importance of the industry and how much research and preparation goes into it. The kids learned that the industry prepares in advance for trends in order to get the clothes into stores and to effectively market them. Our first official lesson was studying 2023 fashion trends, to learn the importance of fashion merchandising. 

The week after fashion merchandising, we learned about portfolios. Portfolios are a terrific way for artists to display their work. The fashion club kids were assigned to create a look based on the lesson of the week to put in their portfolios. The weeks following consisted of the most basic, yet essential, knowledge of fall, winter, spring, and summer trends. 

Fall fashion started our research project for each child's personalized portfolios. We learned about the differences in fabric, layering, and detail for the fall season. For winter apparel, the kids studied the most-seen winter looks during fashion week. While some of the kids were intrigued by winter trends, most just wanted to design Elsa dresses. Spring fashion is where the fashion club took a shift from 2022 to 2023 trends. At this point, the kids really started to understand the importance of fashion merchandising, because they were able to watch entire fashion shows dedicated to trends that will be in 2023. Every kid got such a kick out of being “in the know” of future fashion trends. Summer 2023 cannot come fast enough, and a popular trend this next summer will be retro. I was quickly humbled when one of my kids asked me if that is how I dressed in the 80s. While I was born 20 years after the 80s, at least I don’t refer to Vogue's retro collection as “Stranger Things apparel” like these Fashion Club kids. 

After we finished our portfolios, we had to prepare for our upcoming photoshoot at PCOB. Spirits were high after practicing for our photoshoot. Anticipation rose as the fashion show approached. With all the joy and magic the holiday season brings, the added excitement of the fashion show made it even more special at the Fremont Boys and Girls Club. The kids all practiced walking the runway and succeeded with soaring colors. 

Halloween 

October 31st, 2022 was a school out day for Springfield Public Schools. This means Fremont Boys and Girls Club was filled from 7:30am-5:30pm with excited trick-or-treaters in festive costumes. The fashion club started their morning with breakfast and then jumped in the BGCA van to go shopping for their photoshoot and fashion show. Each kid was given a budget of fifty dollars to pick at least two outfits, the remainder of the cash could go to jewelry, shoes, accessories, etc. They were instructed to find one casual and one fancy outfit. Each fashion club kid was to do their own math. They were also highly encouraged to base their outfits on their personal portfolios. They shopped, tried on, and finally checked out at TJ-Maxx. I was told by multiple strangers at the shop how impressive the children's behavior was. I was beyond proud of their ability to help each other find outfits in the right size and uplift one another in the dressing rooms. This group of ten has grown so close since August, and it was very apparent while shopping. 

PCOB Photoshoot 

November is one busy month for The Boys and Girls Club. Between Christmas list shopping, Thanksgiving feasts, and school out days, the fashion club had to slow down for a bit. The kids were eager to come back for December with a bang. December 2nd was a day to remember. The children participated in a full-blown photoshoot highlighting the outfits they picked out over Halloween! A’darian came up with a “supermodel name” for us to refer to during the shoot, Jayla looked like she belonged in a Justice Catalog, and sweet Ayonna surprised all the Sartorial girls with her fashion sense. 

The work the children have put into this club has been astonishing. I am so proud to be able to share their hard work with Missouri State’s Fashion Magazine. So what’s next for the fashion club agenda you may ask? A personalized fashion show at Missouri State to display all their hard work for family and fellow club members. Each member will have their portfolio on display, have printed pictures from their photoshoot, and get to walk a runway with their outfits on!