Final thoughts and Hero's Gala

This has been a very extensive project that has taken a lot of time, effort, planning and resources. Starting out I did not think we would get as far as being actual finalists in the Red Cross Hero's Gala Wearable Art Fashion Show. This project was quite an experience from beginning to end. The brainstorming, preparation and execution of the plan we came up with for the backpack was constantly being adjusted as we built the it. It seemed every time we came up with something we were tweaking it as the next part was being put into place.



My job was designer and construction, actually that was pretty much what each of us were doing on the backpack side of the team. Jon, Rickey, Jen and I did a lot of brainstorming on materials and general construction. The construction duties were split pretty evenly, I think I did a good bit of the drilling and I strengthened the inside of the cross with epoxy when we found that the initial bracing we did was not enough. I bought paint, adhesives and bracing hardware. I also came up with the idea for bracing the top arm of the cross so that the whole thing would not wobble when it was worn. I also did a lot of the painting and I know it could have been better. I think the time frame we were working with and the availability of facilities and people were a hindering factor. Overall I think everything turned out well and seeing it up on a stage made it all worth it. It looked great with the LED panel lit up and moving around being seen by a lot of people. The Red Cross Hero's Gala was pretty cool and it was definitely something I was glad I was able to attend.

The beginning of the Gala, most of us are there and scrambling like ants to get things ready and make sure nothing is broken. (Pict. Shilpi, Ankhoa, Ismael and Ali)

Our stand in model, he was a volunteer at the event and I did not get his name. The model we choose showed up a few minutes before the show actually started.

The skirt/vest model, Elizabeth (?). She was there on time and ready to go, she seemed genuinely excited to be wearing the outfit and thought the skirt/vest team did a great job. I believe the words "technologicalized" or "technologized" was used. I'll have to double check.

The backpack and the judges. It was worn by the model we choose at this point, Filip and he did a good job of wearing it for an extended period. The women in foreground with her back to the camera is Bobbie Lopez and she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Red Cross in Santa Clara. I met her briefly when I arrived at the hotel as I was holding the backpack so it wouldn't fall over.

Elizabeth on the runway showing off the skirt/vest/purse. I missed the backpack since I had been backstage making sure Filip got the backpack on ok and was ready to go.

A blurry view of the main room, there were a lot of people there dressed up all fancy like and looking at the stuff we made! Yehaw!

A shot of all the designs that made it to the finals. The model fourth from the left is wearing the design that won. I may have a slightly better picture somewhere.

A better shot of all the designs, the design that won is now on the far left and can be seen i much better detail. Our designs are in the back (grrr....) and on the far right (wooo!) and everyone else's in between.

A shot of the main room during the auctioning off of random-things-that-people-with-money-buy. It was a interesting part of the evening. They had a car salesman running the auction and he was yelling numbers really fast and goading people to spend more, though I think most of the items sold for a lot less then they were worth.

 

 Front and back shots of the cross backpack and Filip. It really looked cool once it was up and around. An editor from San Jose Fashion also talked to a few of us briefly about how she really liked the skirt/vest and wanted to keep in touch with the team or at least get our contact information for future endeavors. I found out the Red Cross also wants to keep in contact as well.