Since the beginning of time, mankind has had to wear clothes and apparel for protection from harsh weather conditions and for day to day practicality. As humanity developed, wearing and making clothing became less of an obligation and instead became an art form. 

Several people across the world enjoy making and designing clothes and apparel, and several of those people are students at our school. 

Apparel and Design is a popular elective offered at our school taught by Sharon Genus. The class not only involves learning about textile and apparel design but also in making it.

“Ms. Genus does a lot of interesting projects, so we are doing projects that help spark interests,” sophomore Tiana Jordan said. “Like, right now we’re making pajama pants, and we just finished up with stuffed animals.”

Though some students found their ‘spark’ in the class, others have held an interest in apparel and design for longer.

“Pretty much all my life. There’s no spark to it. I’ve just really been around fashion my whole life,” junior Josh Gordon Whitaker said.

Junior Lauryn Lenoir discovered a passion for apparel design later, inspired by artists she admires. 

“I’ve been interested in apparel design for two years now,” Lenoir said. “I feel like everybody likes clothes. Everybody wants something new, and what’s really sparked my interest is my favorite artist Playboi Carti. He has a very unique sense of style, and I feel like I can make what he wants to wear and Rick Owens as well.”

Whether they’ve always loved apparel and design, or they just discovered it, the students in the class were all offered the opportunity to attend a field trip to NC State University’s Wilson school of Textiles and design.

Before the field trip, the students had a vague idea of what they were going to see.

“I expected to see students actually going around and designing clothes,” sophomore Caitlyn Clifford said. “I could see students actually making fabrics and making clothes as well.”

The students glimpsed future opportunities that would be available to them once they graduate.

“They showed us different programs we could do to get ready for the college you want to go to and internships from foreign countries that are paid and can help us get into the tech style business,” senior Giselle Chavez said.

Students also previewed the specialized skills and programs NCSU had to offer.

“There’s so many different outlets in fashion and apparel,” Gordon Whitaker said. “There’s one class where they teach how to make firemen gear completely fireproof. Another one is teaching you how to make just cotton.”

Apparel design and manufacturing is a complex industry. 

“There is a lot more into the process of making clothes and stuff than you would think,” junior Ben Barker said.

And at the school the students could see how respected apparel and design is.

“People take it way more seriously than I thought,” freshman Madison Dolganiuc said. “It showed me that there is way more to it. It’s not just a little thing. It’s actually serious.”

Due to the trip, several students have started to further consider their future careers.

“I’m not sure if I want to pursue textile design as my career, but this new info puts the career on the map for me,” junior Amaya Garcia said.

The Wilson College of Textiles impressed Taylor.

“State is definitely top on my list for colleges to attend.”

All in all, students who attended the trip have gained a new perspective on the apparel and design industry.

“From this trip, I have learned that making textiles is a possible industry that I would be interested in,” Clifford said.