‘GRADUATES of Helen Lefeaux
_ proved. théy’d mastered their
.: school’s ‘motto, “learn by doing”
»_ when they presented their debut vol-
-’ lections June 29.

--Heid «in the ballroom at the Vancouver
-. Renaissance Hotel, the Vancouver design

an array of fabrics and fashions that reflected
_ the personal tastes and personalities of each of
this year’s 35 graduates. From silk chiffon to
shiny PVC and haute couture to club wear,
there was something for everyone. mo
dowts were Lisa Lang’s sassy cowgirl
ith its kicky dress in vintage Grand

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

: MICHAEL Pollock’s winning designs started with a mer, he’s becn honing his craft
_ sketch, right. The young designer will be in Berlin next as an apprentice tailor at Ray's
week to attend the Smirnoff Fashion Awards finals. of North Shore Tailors’ on

ion grads debut
jner collections

school’s. annual runway presentation featured -

north shore news

§ FASHION

Layne Christensen

Fashion Editor
layne@nusnews.com

PERSEVERANCE paid
off for Michael Pollock
when the Lions Bay
resident finished second
in the Smirnoff Fashion
Awards Canadian finals
in May.

On Friday he'll be flying to
Berlin to support his former
classmate from Vancouver's
Helen Lefeaux School of
Fashion Design, first-place
winner Jason Marlo, who will
represent Canada in the inter-
national finals.

He'll also be checkirg out
design schools in Manchester
and London while he’s there.

His design development is
impressive considering where
he was just two years ago.

“IT didn’t know how to
thread the sewing machine the
first day of class,” says Pollack,
21, looking preppy in Gap
khakis and navy polo shirt.

The West Van Secondary
grad had signed up for the 10-
month course at Helen
Lefeaux to pick up a few skills
to sew snowboarding wear.
Now he’s considering a career
in women’s high fashion.

Since graduating last sum-

Prix print, corset top and hand-tooted leather
hipsters; Judy Ronnenberg’s child’s vest of
boiled wool embroidered with bear and paw
prints; and Bettina Weideman’s white circle
skirt and ribbon-laced bustier with hand-paint-
ed front.

One of the most innovative yet wearable
collections was presented by Geoff Argue of
North Van. The 18-year-old added texture to
his plain wool pieces by draping and: tucking:
and turning them inside out to reveal their
inner construction — showing maturity of
design that belied his youth. North Van resi-
dent Lynn Lalonde, 35, also presented some
strong designs.

— Layne Christensen

Ne

Esplanade, an experience
which he says has been “fabu-
lous.”

The tailoring and finishing
techniques he learned there,
he was able to apply te the
complicated design of his
Smirnoff entry, he says.

Only after winning the
regional finals was he required
to sew his cwo design entries.
Up to then, judging had been
based on sketches.

From January to May the
competition consumed alt his
time, It rook hundreds of
hours to draft and construct
just nwo outfits. Pollock fig-
ures he spent the entire month
of May spending 18-hour days
in the sewing lab at Helen
Leteaux, working side-by-side
with Jason Matlo.

The two competitors
became friends, he says, and
pushed each other to perfect
their designs.

Their entries couldn’t have
been more different.

Presented with the theme
of Metamorphosis, Pollock
chose to design two outfits
thar explore man’s animal
nature, while Matlo’s designs
were inspired by the Japanese
art of ongami.

Pollock credits the staff at
Helen Lefeaux for helping set
him on his new career path,
for which his cnthusiasm is

genuine.

“I love this stuff. [c's just
awesome.”

Sunday, July 12, 1998 - North Shore News - 15

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