Huntington Fashion Students Display Creative Designs

Huntington High School fashion design students recently showed off their work at two public shows in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium that coincided with the district’s annual art show.

Art teacher Kim Valerio heads the high school fashion design program and she smiled broadly throughout the afternoon and evening shows.

The shows consisted of Fashion I, II and III and Portfolio students plus several guest models. The students made a variety of garments, including dresses, tops, skirts, pants and aprons. A themed portion of the show titled “Wild, Wild West” was created by Fashion II, Fashion III and Portfolio students.

This is a sampling of what they created:

Mason Gomez (Portfolio in Fashion Design /12th grade) wore a vest that he created by cutting up a pair of denim jeans, repurposing and redesigning and adding leather straps, buckles, grommets and lacing. He also created a halter dress using a combination of various fabrics for his guest model, teacher Jennifer Savalli and a silk top for her daughter, nine-year-old guest model JoJo Savalli. He will be attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in the fall, majoring in fashion design.

Kimora Fuller (Portfolio in Fashion Design /12th grade) created a brown gauze cotton gathered top with white lace trim at the neckline. She also created a leather corset with grommets and laces. She plans to attend Nassau Community College in the fall, majoring in fashion design.

Amaya Joly (Fashion Design 3 /12th grade) created a long black skirt and a long brown overskirt with lacy brown trim. She also created a velvet vest for her twin, guest model Kai Joly. She plans to pursue a career in cosmetology after graduation.

Isabella Goutevenier (Fashion Design 3 /11th grade) created four pieces for her design- a blouse, a corset, pants, and a jabot. Machine made embroidery is featured consistently in the outfit, with some additional accessories created.

Charles Desrochers (Fashion Design 3 /11th grade) created a denim vest with a zippered front and leather and metal detailing and a pair of denim pants to match. He also repurposed a denim jacket by adding patches, fabric, and metal detailing for his guest model, art teacher Nick Matarazzo.

Allison Sifontes Torres (Fashion Design 2 /11th grade)

Yann Laguerre (Fashion Design 2 /10th grade) created a golden brown suede skirt with dark brown fringe on the bottom. She also created a custom belt using velvet fabric and added grommets and lacing.

Sofia Jimenez-Contreras (Fashion Design 2 /10th grade) created a short denim skirt and a long flowing fringe trimmed overskirt. The overskirt was created using a silky print fabric and off-white fringe trim.

Javier Santiago  Benitez (Fashion Design 2 /12th grade) created an off-white textured jacket,  accessorizing it with red scarves and bandannas.

“We received many compliments about this year's show,” Ms. Valerio said. “I am very proud of my fashion students and of what they accomplished throughout the year.”

Art teacher Kim Valerio

A graduate of Harborfields High School, Ms. Valerio holds an undergraduate degree from Parsons School of Design. After working for many years in graphic arts, mostly in New York City, she returned to college and obtained a master’s degree in art education at Long Island University-CW Post.

Ms. Valerio completed her student teaching requirements in Huntington. She then worked as a substitute teacher in Huntington and in several other surrounding districts. She was hired as a part-time art teacher in Huntington in 2010 and became full-time in 2015. Throughout the years she has worked in all eight buildings in the district in some capacity. Ms. Valerio teaches courses in Creative Crafts and Fashion at Huntington High School and directs the student fashion shows at the annual district-wide art show.