The Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks hosted an exciting display of artistic fashion – dresses designed by students in the high school’s Fashion and Design class. The students crafted unique dresses for scarecrows displayed throughout the month, giving them an opportunity to blend creativity with practical life skills.
The project was a hands-on learning experience for all the students involved, from sewing and working with fabrics to collaborating as a team.
“It’s pretty fun. It’s a nice environment, and it’s fun working all together, incorporating everyone’s ideas,” senior Mirella Zaldana-Flores said. “You learn a lot of life skills, like how to sew, and working with others is something that will be useful no matter what career path you choose.”
The students had to think outside the box, especially when it came to sourcing materials.
“A lot of the fabrics come from repurposed items, like old dresses, curtains, and tablecloths from Goodwill,” Tessa Bunch, the fashion and design teacher, said. “Sustainability is important, and the students have learned how to creatively reuse materials, which is a valuable lesson in both design and environmental responsibility.”
For many of the students, this project was more than just a chance to showcase their skills.
“It’s helped me handle things when they don’t go my way,” senior Nayshaliz Dominguez said. “It’s kind of scary at first, but it’s exciting too. I feel accomplished and proud of how far I’ve come.”
The students’ hard work paid off, with the dresses on display for visitors to admire.
“I feel proud of our final product,” senior Dylan Danford said. “It’s going to be really good, and it feels great to see something we created as a team come to life.