Rock the Runway

The neutral colors of the Ferguson Ballroom are no longer visible through the thick black curtains that usher in the darkness.

But right as the crowd's eyes begin to adjust, flashing lights illuminate the area, and a stream of bright colors flood the ballroom in the form of extravagant garments marching to the beat of the music.

The crowd blinks at first, but then everyone is able to take in the intricate and elaborate couture creations of 12 talented aspiring fashion designers from the UA department of clothing, textiles and interior design.

Rock the Runway, which is sponsored by the College of Human Environmental Sciences and University Programs, is the first fashion show in UA history to include multiple designers.

The history-making show is the result of the combined effort of more than 198 people including designers, models, makeup artists, hair stylists and backstage crew as well as the special dedication of one student who wanted to give back to the University in his own special way.

Making his mark

Anthony Williams, a senior majoring in textile design and the organizer of the show, didn't know how he was going to go to college until the University gave him a shot.

Williams was working as a bridal consultant at David's Bridal in Birmingham when a co-worker and UA alumna saw his sketches, and, recognizing his talent, referred him to an instructor in the apparel and textiles design program at the University.

Soon after, he made the drive to Tuscaloosa to meet with the professor, who both acknowledged his skills and pointed out his weaknesses.

"It was then and there that I realized that I needed to attend the UA program," Williams said.

Once he was accepted, he wanted to give back to the university that saw his potential and gave him the opportunity to be the first college graduate in his family.

"Once I was admitted to UA, the sky has been the limit ever since," he said. "Anywhere I go I try to shake things up, and I'm now trying to make my mark at UA through this fashion show."

Passion for fashion

For Williams, designing has been a way of life since he was in elementary school. "I've been designing since I was about 8 years old," Williams said. "Doing anything from manipulating and adjusting my own clothes to stuff I got at thrift stores. It wasn't just clothing either, it was stuff like designing the Christmas tree - because all that stuff is design, too."

While Williams has always had a love for fashion, he didn't always design purely for pleasure.

"I was a very independent child," Williams said. "And we were poor, so my mama would say, 'I'm not buying you any clothes.' So that's probably why I design."

Williams, however, is not the only designer who has always had a flare for fashion.

Amanda Perna, a senior majoring in apparel and textile design, was also artistic growing up.

"I was a ridiculously creative child," Perna said. "I started making purses out of denim when I was in the sixth grade, and now I own my own company."

Another of the 12 designers, Kortney Ferguson, a senior majoring in apparel and textile design, also developed her creative side as a child.

"I'd say the first thing I designed was in the fifth grade," Ferguson said. "My mom helped me make it; it was a sundress."

Change of heart

Though Ferguson and Perna said they loved design, they had their doubts about a future in it.

"I always loved making things," Ferguson said. "But I never really thought of it as something I'd want to do for a career."

For Ferguson, it took starting out in a different major to find out what she really wanted to do.

"I actually started out in engineering," Ferguson said. "But it was just boring to me, and so I had to find out what I really loved, and this [fashion design] is what I'm really passionate about."

Perna was torn between two majors until she found out which one was right for her.

"When I was looking at UA for college, I saw it had an apparel and design school," Perna said. "But for a while I was between psychology and apparel."

Perna balanced both until a summer internship helped her decide which to pursue.

"After my internship this summer in New York City with Oscar de la Renta, I knew that design is what I needed to be doing," she said. "So I dropped psychology."

A future in fashion

All three soon-to-be UA graduates plan to take their skills out into the world to make a name for themselves in three different arenas.

Perna plans to study fashion in Europe and then move to New York to work under a premier designer before working for her company, Couture Chaos, fulltime.

"Once I feel like I have everything I need to make it in the cutthroat world of fashion, I plan to commit fully to my company," she said.

Ferguson also has her future mapped out.

"After I graduate, I want to work in the fashion industry and eventually open my own boutique regionally and then hopefully nationally," she said.

Williams has had his dream job picked out since childhood.

"I've always known I wanted to design pageant gowns," he said. "My overall dream is to be the official pageant gown designer for Miss USA.

"I've been watching it long enough. They should let me."

The collections

This fashion show provides each of the 12 designers the opportunity to tell the audience a story while showing off their masterpieces.

Through Williams' designs for the show, "Collection Aurora Borealis," he will tell the story of a woman's life through 12 garments.

"In my collection, I will dress a woman from the most insignificant day to the most important day of a woman's life," he said. "I will start out with a swimsuit and conclude with a wedding dress with a whole lot of surprises in between."

When designing dresses in particular, Williams has a philosophy that he abides by.

"A woman's dress should be tight enough to show she's a woman but loose enough to show she's a lady," he said.

Perna's collection "Frou Frou," which has been described as "Marie Antoinette goes antebellum," is a mixed collection of eight garments for women and three garments for men.

"My collection's a bit avant-garde couture," Perna said. "A lot of mine are extravagant, and most of them are just for the runway but some are wearable."

The collection will feature neoclassical silhouettes with bright colors in pinks, blues, oranges and greens with each having a "poofy" detail, she said.

Perna said her designs are not intended for just anyone.

"I use embellishments to make them over-the-top artistic and designed to the last stitch," she said. "For some people it's going to be too much. It just takes someone with a huge desire to stand out to want to wear my clothing."

Ferguson's collection, "Phlavor," consists of several pants, skirts, tops and dresses.

"My collection is really inspired by the '80s, because they were really bright, colorful and carefree," she said.

Perna, who spent nearly 15 hours per dress, said students should come out to support their peers and to see what the fashion world is all about.

"It's just an opportunity to see what the fashion world is really like and where people begin," she said. "All the designers are just doing it for love of fashion because it's what we're passionate about."

Williams encouraged students to come out to get a glimpse of Tinseltown glamour.

"You'll have lights, camera, action, and it'll be UA's taste of Hollywood," he said.

Rock the Runway will be Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. in the Ferguson Ballroom and is a free event.