A flash of white.
Music hums throughout the room.
Models walk down the vibrant red runway, posing as they reach the end.
They’ve been preparing for this since the beginning of the school year. They were born for this.
The first district-wide fashion show was held last Thursday in the Prosper auditorium. For the show, designers in Fashion Design II and practicum classes created about three outfits for their models of choice.
“I’m super excited this year because it is our first district fashion show,” fashion design teacher Tiffany Caro-Sanchez said. “So, historically, PHS has always hosted a fashion show, but it’s just been the student designers of Prosper High School. I always had this idea, once I stepped into the fashion design teacher position, to have a district-wide fashion show to showcase all our students across the district. So the student designers come from Prosper High School, Rock Hill, and Walnut Grove.”
The fashion show acts as an outlet for students to showcase all the skills they have learned in class. Outfits walking in the show started being created in October.
“Honestly, I just think it’s really nice to socially, like, support and like, see what we’ve been working on all year,” senior, designer, and model Jade Hotard said. “And so I know a lot of like, friends and family are gonna do that, but I think it’s just kind of a fun experience, even if you’re not interested in fashion, just to see kind of what your classmates are creating and kind of support them.”
This year’s theme was fantasy – more specifically, “Once Upon a Runway.” Designers created their pieces accordingly, with costumes inspired by fairies, vampires, mermaids, and more appearing on the runway.
“Last year, our theme was cinema, and so it was just kind of like Hollywood and movies, and I kind of found it a little bit boring and kind of restrictive,” Hotard said. “But fantasy can be anything, and so I feel like it might be liked a lot more, because fantasy can be a princess, it can be a take on a mythological creature, it can be so many different things, and it can still be fantasy.”
Models went through the casting process by filling out a Google Form that was sent out in September. From there, designers picked their models based on their measurements, skin tone, facial structures, hair, and how they would correspond with the overall look of the designs.
“Well, we have people who come and sign up,” senior, designer Garrett Gray said. “But I myself had my friends do it because I didn’t want to have some rando. So I had my beautiful friends do it.”
Model, senior Nicole Rendon, described having to try on all the garments, walking in heels, and getting all the accessories and makeup to prepare for the show.
“Since I was like, new this year, (Garrett) told me that the fashion show is something like, (that) was very big and (something to look) forward to, so, yeah,” Rendon said. “I just decided to try something new. ”
While some designers and models did the show for fun, others plan to pursue a career in fashion in the future – Hotard, who has been accepted into the Savannah College of Art and Design is one of them.
“I really can’t wait to pursue fashion,” Hotard said. “I want to have my own little boutique one day, of Lolita dresses. And even if it’s just something I want to do on the side, fashion has always been something I enjoyed, and I’m just so excited.”
While this might have been the inaugural district show, the one at PHS has been around for more than five years – the fashion design class even longer. With more than about 103 students, Caro-Sanchez was originally a culinary teacher at PHS before transitioning into the fashion department.
“(Fashion) truly is my passion,” Caro-Sanchez said. “I just love everything about it. Like, I really enjoy sewing. I feel like it’s also a good, like, brain break, you know, for kids that are always on, or students that are always on their Chromebooks.”
Caro-Sanchez also said that the class is hands-on and perfect for those who don’t want to be on their devices all the time.
“You’ll get to learn a new skill,” Caro-Sanchez said. “You’ll get to create. We made tote bags. We made zipper pouches. We made like a spring Easter Bunny bag that they got to take home. They made a quilted pillow case that was attached to a blanket. And then right now they’re making pajama pants. And then all those skills for those that want to continue will lead up into creating actual garments for the fashion show.”
When asked what she wants her students to gain from the event, Caro-Sanchez had one word: confidence.
“And so I think that kind of put things into perspective, like they can do great things also,” Caro-Sanchez said. ” But I want them to gain the confidence in themselves that they’re able to do something that’s challenging, that’s maybe not expected of a high school student.”
This story was originally published on Eagle Nation Online on May 9, 2025.