Fashion Students Reflect on Ms. Ho’s Final Show

Eric Hamber fashion students debut their collections at Exodus 2023 | Photo Credit: Max Mok

Eric Hamber's award-winning fashion program’s annual fashion show took place on Jun. 14 and 15. As designers prepare for the road ahead, they take a final look back on this year’s show, Exodus, and what it meant to them.

“I didn’t fully know what to expect,” said Meskerem Freeborn (12). Most students had never participated in a fashion show because of the three-year hiatus caused by COVID-19. “Going into it knowing that this was going to be the last show that was going to be put on in this school, I wanted to push myself to make everything I designed be the best it could be,” Freeborn explained.

Exodus was especially important to Hamber’s fashion department not only because it was the last show in Hamber’s current building: it was also the last fashion show with the dedicated fashion teacher, Ms. N. Ho (Textiles). According to Ms. Ho, Exodus officially should have been her 32nd annual fashion show, but it is instead her 29th because of the hiatus. She is planning to retire next year. 

“I think everyone's now kind of sad that Ms. Ho is leaving us,” commented Naomi Waslen (9). Many students shared similar sentiments, recounting how vital Ms. Ho is, both to the program and to their own design processes.

“Putting one of these shows on takes so much time and effort,” said Ms. Ho. She told the fashion students that if they want a show next year, they’re in charge. “In some ways, I regret not doing another one next year– but I know it’s going to be way too much work with packing up and moving to the new school.”

“I contacted kids from the last 20-plus years, to get them to bring stuff back, and that really elevated the whole show,” said Ms. Ho. Many designers pointed this aspect out as one that made Exodus extra special. 

Sophie Jung (9) pointed out that designers who weren’t able to have a show because of the pandemic came back. She said, “We had a lot of previous designers from the COVID graduation years that didn't get to present their [designs].”

Advanced fashion students were given the opportunity to create their own collections. Students ensured their collections held both purpose and perfection.

“I feel like in fashion right now, there's a lot of dark colours, a lot of greys, a lot of muted tones,” shared Milo Lee-Philp (12). “I wanted to insert as much vibrancy and colour as possible.” Lee-Philp wielded a youthful colour pallet to create his collection, Swerve.

Lee-Philp explained that all designs must be approved by Ms. Ho. “Whatever we give her is not what comes out at the end,” he admitted. “We tend to overcomplicate and then she simplifies for us.”

Kevin Gosnell (12) shared that he “wanted to create my appliqués and embellishments showcasing [his] Indigenous heritage.” He explained the colour palate: red representing the light, and black representing the darkness coming before time. “The shiny bits of it are to represent Raven's personality and his love for shine,” he added. 

Although Gosnell has participated in fashion shows like Indigenous Fashion Week, Exodus was his first Hamber show. “I'm happy that people got to see part of my personality and my heritage,” he concluded.

“I have always been drawn to using denim since there are so many different ways you can use it,” said Freeborn. Her collection, Dace, plays with the contrast of soft lace placed against strong denim. Freeborn’s ultimate goal for Dace was for the collection to be casual and wearable. “I made it so that all pieces involved could be mixed and matched.”

Angie Zhang (12)’s 90s Deconstructed was inspired by her favourite designers: Margiela, Rei Kawakubo, and Dries Van Noten. “I went through their archives and identified key design elements such as deconstruction and surface texture manipulations,” said Zhang.

Zhang made her entire collection out of denim. “I tried to mimic deconstruction effects,” Zhang shared. She bleached her materials to achieve different results, focussing on asymmetry.

“It was a very technical piece,” concluded Zhang. “I realized how much more difficult it is to master the precision of ready-to-wear garments as opposed to more abstract and conceptual show pieces.”

Most graduating designers are looking ahead to their futures in fashion design. Following her first-place finish in fashion technology at Skills Canada, Zhang is staying at Hamber to train for World Skills 2024, which will take place in Lyon, France.

Freeborn will be attending the Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. “I will be studying fashion technology and marketing, which I am looking forward to a lot,” she said.

Lee-Philp will be moving to London, England to attend Central Saint Martins. “I was very nervous, because the acceptance rate is quite low, so I put in a lot of work,” he revealed. He added that Hamber’s fashion program prepared him well for the opportunity.

For younger students taking textiles courses, Exodus was inspiring, as they worked with experienced designers. “I got to wear some of their collections, which gives me an idea of what I can make,” said Waslen.

Jung commented that she has known some of the seniors since elementary school. “They taught me how to overcome mental blocks and stress from the fashion show,” she said.

“I think of all the people I met in the fashion program as my family,” said Kaelyn Mak (10). “I will forever remember all the fun but stressful times we shared in the sewing room.” Mak made a skirt, jacket, cargo pants, and pyjamas that are presented in the show. She added that “the process took a lot of [her] after-school hours as well as [her] lunch and FIT hours to complete.”

The younger designers expressed a common interest in continuing with the fashion program, and see futures for themselves in the fashion design industry post-secondary.

“I think it was a good wrap-up,” Ms. Ho concluded. “And I see a lot of potential for the future.”