FINO stages annual event despite worries of funding cuts

29th June 2011   ·   1 Comment

By Kelly Parker
The Louisiana Weekly

As the young local standouts of FINO (Fashion Institute of New Orleans) prepared for their annual fashion show which took place Thursday night at Generations Hall, rehearsals and finishing tou­ches on new designs weren’t the only pressures faced. The New Orl­eans East-based program that has provided workshops and hands-on training for high school students looking to pursue a career in the fashion industry is hoping not to be deemed expendable by the state.

Like many notable non-profit programs for local youth, FINO could fall victim to recent state budget cuts; but for the young fashion apprentices, it’s been business as usual.

The students of FINO brought canine couture to the Crescent City. Doggies on the Catwalk showcased the best of students’ stylings for pets, and adults. The MC for the even­ing’s show was Nicondra Norwood of Fox 8 News. New Orleans native Franklin Davis IV, from Season 3 of BET’s “Sunday Best” not only performed, but walked the catwalk with his dog.

The idea for the 2011 show came from the growing trend of (four-legged) fashion, seen mainly in pets of celebrities. “It’s a concept we’ve been toying around with for a couple of years, but didn’t go forward with it,” FINO Director Blane Clayton said. “Seeing as though we’re having funding issues, we decided to do it this year,” Clayton said.

Pending state budget cuts threaten the future of the non-profit program. The 2011 fashion show may be the last event before FINO closes its doors.

Though it may be new to the Big Easy, pet fashions shows have become the norm in New York and parts of Europe.

“It’s a little easier to come up with a concept for people; for the dogs, we had to decide what would look cuter: A tutu or a shirt,” says FINO student Kisandra Massey.

Massey, along with her Shih Tzu, Sparkle, were featured models in the show.

“Right now, pets as an accessory are extremely popular,” Clayton adds. “You see people in L.A. walking around with their little dogs in their Louis Vuitton bags. It’s fashionable to be a pet owner right now.”

The District 2 Community Enhancement Corporation program has offered specialized training to RSD high school juniors and seniors in creative areas from photography and videography to fashion design, skincare/makeup and graphic design. In its four year existence, FINO has prepared 400 area high school students for the world of fashion, by way of producing fashion shows, providing business resources in fashion and retail, and with a mentorship program in New York City. FINO has produced students that have gone onto F.I.T. (The Fashion Institute of New York) Savannah College of Art and Design, the Art Institute of Houston, along with other four-year college programs in and around New Orleans.

The program has been featured in Forbes and Essence magazines, and BET (Black Entertainment Television)

Eleven of FINO’s finest are fresh off of this year’s trip to the Big Apple, which included the chance to visit some of the fashion world’s renowned sights like F.I.T. and rub elbows with fashion and lifestyle insider Bevy Smith.

“It was about three weeks ago- and that was awesome.” Clayton told The Louisiana Weekly. “This year, the group visited the Louis Vuitton showroom, House of Dereon and met Tina Knowles and helped her pick out textiles; and they also visited Glamour magazine.”

The experiences, which allow FINO students to interact with industry professionals like La­Quan Smith of (BET’s “Rip the Runway” fame) gives insight that’s not often taught from books or classroom lectures.

“Because of my experience at FINO, I know that it’s not just about making clothes.” You have to study colors, fabrics-the history; it takes much more. This program allows you to know that there are so many things you can do in fashion,” FINO student Susan Henry said.

“It’s so important that our kids see there are other opportunities other than television,” says Tiffany Crawford, District 2 CEC Executive Director. “Our kids’ ideology is shaped by what is on television, and rarely do they understand that there are so many careers that exist; there people who do lighting, the make-up artistry — it’s very important for them-as children in an urban environment to understand that lots of careers exists that allow you to make a good, honest living with things you can do creatively.”

“I went last year; we got to visit Teen Vogue, Hugo Boss, and a lot of showrooms,” Kisandra Massey told The Louisiana Weekly. “I really love it; I could see myself living there.”

FINO teaches students all aspects of development- from presentation skills to public speaking; tools that are vital professionally as well as personally.

We’ve had kids enter the program that were so quiet, you could barely hear them,” Tiffany Crawford told The Louisiana Weekly. “But once they get the makeup on and hit the runway in the outfits, you’re like-who are these children? It’s been amazing to see that confidence.”

FINO hopes to continue to bring out the best in our young creative local talent. Administrators are asking community to help senators and representatives in Baton Rouge recognize the importance of the program to the New Orleans community.

“This exposure (the fashion show) lets people see that we’re here and what we’re doing to help students,” Blane Clayton said. “So write or call your legislators and let them know that this is a program you want to be here for the long haul.

For more information on FINO, visit www.fashioninstituteno.org.

This article originally published in the June 27, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.