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Community College of Rhode Island
Fashion merchandising students display their craft for a cause
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| Students Daniel Mait (left) and Ashley Thompson (right) with their professor, Melanie St. Jean, prepare for the gallery opening. |
Fourteen CCRI students in the fashion merchandising program recently created signature T-shirts, each with their own unique decorations and a themed tagline, that were displayed and auctioned off in a gallery show and silent auction from December 1 through December 14. Under the advisement of their professor, Dr. Melanie St. Jean, the students designed and created the T-shirts as part of their coursework and in an effort to raise funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To help transform mere T-shirts into true artwork, local Swarovski officials donated crystal beading and the assistance of a company representative in the special technique for applying the crystals to fashion garments.
“Part of business is social consciousness,” says St. Jean. “The students each did research on the topic of breast cancer and on the Foundation, then formulated a marketing plan to ‘sell’ their T-shirts in this fundraiser,” she explains. “They had to consider their audience, formulate their design, and find ways to publicize the event. It was a taste of real product development. The important thing outside of the academic aspect is that they are taking on the role of a responsible citizen in the business community.”
Some T-shirts were pink, others remained white, and all carry a slogan. Student Stacy Fidalgo of Pawtucket, for example, chose to screen-print her shirt with the phrase, “This one shirt could save a life.” Gina Cerullo of Johnston incorporated “hope, faith and angel wings” on her shirt.
Some students feel a personal connection to the project. Lori Marcotte of Attleboro has a grandmother who is a breast cancer survivor. She emphasizes that for her, the importance of this project was raising awareness. Ashley Thompson of Burrillville emphasizes her hope that even those who may not be in a position to bid on a T-shirt will attend the gallery show, view the student work, and come away having learned something that could save a loved one.
In an ironic twist, when St. Jean first called to book the Lincoln campus gallery she learned that the dates she hoped for were already taken. She soon received word from the artist who had the December weeks reserved, photographer Sally Neeld. Neeld, herself a breast cancer survivor, said that she would be glad to share the space, and so the two shows ran concurrently.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was founded in 1993 by Evelyn Lauder of cosmetic giant Estée Lauder. The foundation supports the work of more than 100 researchers worldwide through grant funding and was named one of the eight Best Charities in 2004 by Money magazine, based on its allocation of more than 85 cents from every dollar raised toward research and awareness campaigns.
