Students interested in design can explore clothing creation in a dedicated course at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Their first project to kick off the school year: pajama pants.
The goal is for students to learn the basic necessities of clothing construction, according to Jacquelyn Morris, the teacher. “Our first project is pajama pants, and why that was chosen–not so much for trends, but more for what the students can be set up for success for,” she said.
Students in the class also found it to be an outlet for self expression. Sophia Augustine, a senior, said that she “picked the fabric that I think is the most ‘me.’” She actually chose a different fabric than the ones her friends suggested because it fit her own style. “I didn’t want my first project to be something I’m not going to wear,” she said.
The freedom that the students receive in this project is important in the ways that they feel connected to and excited about their pieces. The projects in this class aren’t created solely to make articles of clothing and keep them. In fact, the students learn many habits and traits to help them in their everyday life.
Patience and persistence are required when students need to “overcome a challenge,” Morris said. “Like even though it seems simple, just being able to look at it and be like ‘OK, I messed up. Here’s what I’m going to do to overcome and fix it.”
As students continue to learn the parts of a sewing machine, the stitching needed for pieces and how to put their vision into reality, they will move onto bigger projects throughout the semester. For example, each student will soon produce a collection, with three pieces of their choice to create a set of intricate work.
Students expressed excitement and interest in what the future holds for this class. James Cozzi, a senior, said that she is “a perfectionist, and it kind of is what ruins a lot of my projects–like me being upset with myself, so I feel like this class has already taught me more patience and perseverance.” She added, “Anything handmade is going to have imperfections, and we aren’t factories.”
