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Houston Students Create Upcycled Gowns for Event With David Tutera

Fashion Design students from The Art Institute of Houston upcycled gowns for a wedding event featuring celebrity wedding planner David Tutera, host of “My Fair Wedding with David Tutera” and “David Tutera's CELEBrations.” The event, “Your Wedding Experience Featuring David Tutera,” tours nationwide and helps future brides and grooms to plan for their big day.

The students presented six upcycled dresses—garments that were repurposed to create a new, modern design. They had three wedding dresses to work with, donated by community partner Magpie's & Peacocks. Three additional dresses were made from the actual event invitations.

The upcycling projects were part of Marina Saba’s Concept Development class. Saba, teaches Fashion Design at The Art Institute of Houston and gave the students only two class periods to complete the project.

Each participating student is working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from The Art Institute of Houston. Kim Nguyen and Ebony McCan made individual dresses outside of the classroom, while four teams created their own upcycled gowns:

• Team 1:   Megan Beck; Terrel Boudreax;  Shi’ana Roberts; Melanie Green-Harris 
• Team 2:    Ijeoma Odumodi;  Kemi Thompson; Wilbert Brinkley; Ayes Pena
• Team 3:    Gabriela Mendiola; Samantha Walker; Shronda Hayes; Deangela Jones
• Team 4:    Kelli McKinley;  Shelena Shulterbrandt; Ramsee Goudeau