Two Williamsville Central students showcase clothing during Erie 1 BOCES FUSION Fashion Show

Posted On Friday May 13, 2022
Flunder-Scinta
Kyari Flunder and Juliet Scinta participate in the 2022 FUSION Fashion Show

West Seneca (May 13, 2022) – A pair of Williamsville Central School District students in the Erie 1 BOCES Fashion Design Technology program hit the runway with their clothing designs during the 2022 FUSION Fashion Show: Silver Linings.

The students, Kyari Flunder and Juliet Scinta, were among the ten Western New York students that showcased their personally designed and crafted collections during the show.

Flunder, of Williamsville South High School, said the inspiration for her work in the show was the clothing and culture of ‘90s hip-hop music.

“I liked that the girls dressed like the boys by wearing baggy clothing and were accepted the same as they would if they were in a crop top and skirt,” Flunder said. “When creating my mood board, I used the words creativity, culture, and rebellious to represent what the music gives off to me.”

Flunder said she wanted to study fashion because it was the best place for her to show her creativity.

“The thing that inspires me the most about fashion is that it has no boundaries; what you create is totally up to you,” she said. “You have full control over the final outcome.”

The FUSION Fashion Show, which has been running since 2009, took place on May 12 at the Calspan Building at 4411 Genesee Street, Buffalo. The theme for the show was developed by students, who said they considered their studies in the program as a silver lining as COVID impacted their school and personal lives.

Scinta, from Williamsville East High School, said the inspiration for her work in the show is her mother, who she said she has always looked up to.

“She grew up in Arizona where she was filled with western culture,” she said. “She has always decorated our house with horseshoes, cow skulls, and cow print.”

Scinta said she chose to study fashion because of her passion for the industry.

“The fashion industry inspires me to dress how I want and to show my creativity and personality through my clothes,” she said. “I love being able to learn how to make clothes that fit my character and exactly how I designed them.”

After high school, Kyari said she would like to continue her education in fashion design. Among her future goals are to open her own store, and to teach younger children how to sew. Scinta said she plans to attend the University of Arizona to study fashion merchandising after her high school graduation.

The show has evolved into a collaborative event across various Erie 1 BOCES programs. Students in the Barbering and Cosmetology program used their skills to prepare the hair and makeup of models participating in the show, while Criminal Justice students provided support for security. Students in the Digital Media program created posters and tickets for the show and recorded the live show. Meanwhile, students in the Video Production and Recording Arts program made videos to introduce each fashion student and their collection during the show.

The two-year Fashion Design Technology program at Erie 1 BOCES’ Harkness Career & Technical Center teaches students how to dress, style and create trends based on design elements and the fashion cycle.  Students in the program also develop business plans as a part of their studies, setting them up for future success.

For more information about the show and the student designers, visit https://www.e1b.org/en/k-12-education-programs/fusion-2022.aspx

About Erie 1 BOCES

As part of public education, Erie 1 BOCES offers a variety of career and technical programs during the regular school day to high school students in Erie County. High school students interested in learning more about how they can participate in various programs such as fashion design, web and gaming technologies, health careers or aviation technology, should visit www.e1b.org/cte or speak with their high school counselor.

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