From innovative costume design to bold, sustainable fashion, students in the Fashion Design Technician program at St. Clair College are preparing to unveil their creations at the 13th annual Atelier Fashion Show.
"It's amazing to see these students through from the beginning to the end," said Prof. Elaine Chatwood, who teaches in the Fashion Design program. "And when the students finally saw their stuff, they were almost crying because they were so excited to see their finished products on display."
The Atelier Fashion Show on April 18, 2026, at the Student Life Centre at Main Windsor Campus will highlight the collections from the St. Clair College Fashion Design program’s graduating students.
As a bonus, the top fashion designers from 2025 will open the show with their new, post-graduate collections. The top three high school students who submitted entries for the ‘Sewing the Seeds of Change’ Sustainable Fashion Design competition will also be displaying their work during the show.
Prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place winning collections and for the most sustainable collection, by a panel of industry VIP Judges.
Prof. Chatwood said the work is more than just a fashion show. Students create an initial proposal with 12 ideation sketches, and with professors, whittle it down to three cohesive designs – making the experience about the entire process, from idea to catwalk.
"We also teach the business and the real world side of things, so and they have to do a tech pack for their collection, which is what they would give to a factory to get it made," said Chatwood, adding the students also create the patterns, cost the materials out, create a website, create look books and get models fitted with their designs.
Second-year student Shahad Al-Haddad can hardly contain her excitement for the big day.
"I'm very excited. I love showing my work and I'm very proud of what I did," said Al-Haddad. "And especially the models – they really bring the work to life, and I can't wait to see it on the runway."
Al-Haddad’s collection features three pieces inspired by a haunted circus.
"I do film outside of school, and I really wanted to create characters that would fit in like a movie set," she said. "We have a jester, a ringleader, and a magician. The concept took about a year. It took a while to land on something that I'm very passionate about, and it combines both my interests."
Thanks to St. Clair for giving me an opportunity to be able to showcase my creativity and thank you to our professors for giving me the ability to do that," Al-Haddad added.
For Atelier Fashion Show ticket information, visit Eventbrite at www.stclaircollege.ca/atelier.
