Fashion is integral to culture, yet many people overlook fashion designers. At Green Hope, the Fashion & Design Club offers students interested in fashion a comfortable environment to explore their passion.
Green Hope senior Sonya Hilbert currently leads the club as its president. When the club formed during her junior year, she eagerly joined. At the time, the art club was the only similar option, but it didn’t focus on fashion design. While Hilbert enjoyed the club’s environment, she soon noticed some challenges. “We had a problem with keeping people in the club and making up activities & meeting ideas that would actually interest people,” she said. Determined to make a difference she decided to take action. “I had a bunch of ideas because I love to read about different aspects in fashion—I’m really interested in that stuff. I was able to come up with a lot of really cool ideas for the club and that’s why I thought I could just take a stand and try to be elected as president,” she explained.
Today, the club boasts around thirty members, a significant increase from the previous year when barely anyone participated. This growth clearly demonstrates that Hilbert was the right choice for president.
In the club, students explore various facets of fashion culture including aesthetics, sewing, fabrics and even runway shows and model techniques. One of their main goals is to support students who aspire to pursue careers in fashion design. Hilbert herself is one of these aspiring designers. “I want to become a fashion designer and work for a designer brand. Next year, I’m planning on going to school to get my bachelor’s in apparel design and merchandising. My dream college is NC State,” she said.
Hilbert’s interest in design began when she was young. “When I was probably 5 or so, I had a bunch of American Girl dolls and my grandma and I would sew clothes for them. I think that’s really what jump-started my interest in fashion,” she recalled.
As Hilbert has grown, her sense of fashion has evolved. She now gravitates toward romantic-Victorian-rococo styles. “It’s very whimsical and feels like it came from a princess movie. This is not something I typically wear because it’s not functional or practical for my day-to-day life but if I could wear princess dresses every day I would!” she exclaimed.
Outside of the club, Hilbert enjoys making clothes for herself & her family, sketching her own designs and developing a fashion blog she plans to launch. She also loves art and writing, particularly poetry. “I kind of incorporate them into fashion. I see them all as kind of connected because fashion is a form of art. To me, fashion can also be seen as poetry because it tells a story,” she said.
Fashion has the power to connect people across the globe. Designers like Hilbert actively foster this connection through their creations, offering something truly invaluable to society.
