Chippewa Valley Times

Students from the University of Wisconsin-Stout are merging fashion with cutting-edge technology at the upcoming WEAR Fashion Show. On May 3, fashion design students and models participated in a unique 3D photoshoot, led by Anna Mathsen, a senior in professional and technical communication, using the university's PARSEC Lab.

For her capstone project, Mathsen is creating a digital fashion portfolio with a 3D-modeling photogrammetry software, capturing the apparel collections of fellow students Evan Tomczyk and Lucas Moreno-Martinez III. Both designers will debut their collections at WEAR.

Moreno-Martinez’s "Vex" collection explores multiple personalities through four creatively inspired outfits. “The collection is versatile, with silhouettes that are both familiar and impractical, with dreamlike textures,” he explained. Tomczyk, known for his jacket designs, emphasized, “Pants make an outfit, but jackets make it interesting.” Two of his jacket designs will be part of the show.

The WEAR Fashion Show provides students with a platform to transition from studio learning to industry-level fashion presentations. The showcase will occur at the Memorial Student Center Great Hall, featuring the work of both senior students and underclassmen, a new addition to the event this year.

Bex Cermin, WEAR's faculty adviser, praised the students’ commitment. “WEAR Fashion Show is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their work in a professional setting as they jumpstart their careers,” she said. “It’s been inspiring to see new and seasoned students step up and take ownership of their creative growth this year.”

The PARSEC Lab, utilized by Mathsen for her project, uses 120 DSLR cameras to rapidly create high-resolution 3D models. This technology, developed by Computer Science Professor Seth Berrier, supports various applications from video games to museum artifacts. “We’ve had four student projects in the PARSEC Lab since it opened. Anna’s is the first communications/fashion design collaboration we’ve had,” Berrier noted.

Mathsen capitalizes on modern techniques and software to spotlight her friends' creations in 3D form. “I admire fashion, and Evan and Lucas have a passion for design. I wanted to spotlight their work, their design process and completed looks,” she expressed.

The WEAR Fashion Show is only a part of UW-Stout's larger Spring Showcase. The event aims to bolster student engagement and innovative creativity while offering the public a glimpse into the future of fashion design.