‘Extra! Extra!’: Bridgerland fashion show

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Nov. 2 to reflect accurate information. 

Fashion Merchandising and Development is one of many programs at Bridgerland Technical College in Logan. Its fall show, “The Daily Runway,” paid homage to news and the sharing of stories with the promotional tagline, “Extra! Extra!” 

Students in the program planned and produced the show, held Oct. 21-22 at the Business & Innovation Hub at BTECH. They handled everything from the theme and poster to the music, choreography, styling, and hair and makeup concepts. 

“Our main goal and mission is to train students for employment,” said Hailey Ropelato, head of BTECH’s fashion department. 

The show is the hands-on part of the program’s promotional event planning course. The program covers a broad part of the fashion industry, including product development, visual merchandising, fashion styling, sales strategy, social media marketing and sewing. Ropelato said the goal is to give students the technical and soft skills to start a career. 

 Students begin their planning with trend forecasting, and then they pitched theme ideas that tied those trends together. The students, school administrators and social media followers voted on the final concepts. 

“It’s so fun to have that acknowledgement and then to go through the whole process and see it live,” Ropelato said. “It’s definitely like an ‘aha’ moment.” 

Ropelato said the theme fits naturally with what the program teaches. 

Payton Shannon

“I think it plays so well — the idea of news and that fashion tells a story,” Ropelato said. 

Each set took on a different kind of headline, from local news and skate culture to business and Cache Valley’s outdoor lifestyle. Newspaper-covered dress forms decorated the room. 

“People were able to really see how we could take the trends here in Cache Valley and tie them into this overall theme,” Ropelato said. 

For Kitsley Flores, a high school senior, it was her first show. She said she had wanted to work in fashion since she was in fourth grade after watching documentaries about the industry. 

“I loved all the music,” Flores said. “I loved watching the set with my friends.” 

Flores said the theme felt formal but broad enough to bring in many different categories, so everyone could feel included. 

Her group styled the “Wives at Heart” set. Her favorite look included a red sheer zebra-print top with a brown leather jacket, inspired by a simple prompt from her teacher: minimalist or maximalist. 

 Flores said she would have liked to try something edgier. 

“I really, really wanted to do something alternative,” Flores said. “I really liked the goth one.” 

Flores said styling men can be the harder job. 

“A lot of stores don’t offer a lot for a man, so it’s just kind of hard finding outfits for them,” Flores said. 

Fashion students also designed the hair and makeup looks, which students in BTECH’s cosmetology and esthetics programs brought to life. 

“They always put their own individual spin on it, which we love,” Ropelato said. 

Ropelato has firsthand experience with the program. She took it as a high school student, then studied visual communications at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. She worked in the industry before joining BTECH as an educator in 2011.  

The program draws students from eight Cache Valley high schools, along with full-time students who can start the first Monday of any month. Flores takes her BTECH class one period a day. After high school, she hopes to study business with a focus on fashion. 

Ropelato said self-expression is at the heart of the program. 

“Being original and being your own person, no matter what shape, size, background you have, and being able to express yourself through your clothing is so awesome,” Ropelato said. 

Ropelato said she wants the program to be a safe, respected place where everyone can explore their creativity. This year’s students have been a “hype squad” for each other on stage. 

“It’s a fun process to watch,” Ropelato said. 

According to Ropelato, about 300 people typically attend over the show’s two nights. Ticket sales aren’t meant to turn a profit — they cover sound, lighting, refreshments and fabric for the students’ collection.  

“The crowd was electric both nights,” Ropelato said. She added that the energy always carries through to the models. 

For many students, the show was their first look at what goes into a production. Ropelato said several students told her they had no idea how much work it took. 

“They’re like, ‘It makes sense now,’” Ropelato said. 

With the program’s spring show set for April, students will soon begin the process again, starting with trend forecasting in February.