20 Southwest Progress Report 2012


Swift Current designer knows her fashion


BY COURTNEY SMITH is


S soon


BY COURTNEY SMITH askatchewan


and living skies, oil and potash. However, Wall. “I started talking to people who took diff erent programs. So, I went to Lethbridge one day as a ‘student for the day,’ and I loved the class. I signed up for the next year and moved to Lethbridge.”


bundance of farmers and crops, sunsets dlivingskies o la dp tash However Saskatchewan will be proudly


askatchewan is r cognized f recognized for its abundance o


ts nd cr ps, sunsets


recognized for its emerging designers in the fashion industry. Swiſt Current is home to Jaycee Wall, a fresh designer with goals and dreams as she embarks on the competitive journey towards success in high fashion. Wall has aspired to be a fashion designer


since early high school. She has been sewing since a young child, and now realizes the seriousness and demand of a designer in the world of clothing design. She decided to take a risk and begin her career by enrolling in the Fashion Design and Merchandising program at Lethbridge College, where she completed one year and earned her certifi cate in honours. “I knew throughout high school, because


I made my own grad dress, but I didn’t really think of it seriously because I didn’tdn’ know there was a demand for it,” mused Wall “ started talkin


hink o it know t


e was a demand for it,” mu ng t


ously because I did peo le who too


Subsequent to earning her certifi cate, she decided to take an even larger stride and travel to one of the fashion capitals of the world: Paris. T ere she was accepted into a fashion school, but due to extremely high tuition fees, she chose to educate herself in the French world instead, learning French, babysitting, and meeting people all over the elegant city. “I


just immersed myself,” commented


Wall. “Whenever I wasn’t doing anything, I was out walking and talking with people to learn French. I met lots of good people. Everyone is so fashionable over there,


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I made my own grad dress, but I didn’t eall


Piecing Together the Social Fabric


Photos by Courtney Smith


Jaycee Wall recently participated in a major fashion show in Regina celebrat- ing Fashion Week in Saskatchewan.


it’s incredible.” Wall holds various designers in mind as she works on her line, but her pieces are defi nitely all her own style. She fi nds inspiration in designers such as Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, and Betsey Johnson; however, her greatest inspirations are derived from the small things. She looks to colours, fabrics, hidden treasures at thriſt stores, and sale racks. With these items that people would normally overlook, Wall uses her creativity and sewing talent to transform items into her own, unique fashion designs. “I’m inspired by colours,” stated the


fashionista. “Honestly, going into a fabric store is inspiring enough. Your imagination sees all these beautiful fabrics, and as you feel it you’re like, ‘I want a skirt out of this’ or ‘how cute would this be as a long dress?’ I’m a collector. Whenever I see something I can use, I just grab it. Whatever is really popular, I need to make my own. You have to be on trend.” Wall participated amongst 28 other


designers in Saskatchewan’s fi rst ever Fashion Week from May 10 to 12 held in a tent set up in Regina’s City Square Plaza downtown. Fashion Week was the fi rst event held in the Square. T e event was overall a success, selling out almost every night. T e event held even more inspiration for Wall, as she was able to work alongside established designers and learn from them


and their past experiences. She put together eight looks for her models to showcase, designing and sewing for hours to get the perfect look. Edge Agency, from Regina, provided models, and Wall held auditions to choose the women who would represent her spring line. “All the models I got to work with were


amazing. T ey did it all by volunteer,” states Wall. “T ey were gorgeous girls and were just so amazing. I made really good decisions with them, because they were all great. And now I can call them my friends.” Wall describes her spring line as very


colourful, a balance of sexy and cute, chic, feminine, and summery. Her part in the show was ultimately a success, as she is currently working on special orders for various women. Even aſt er the show, she sold a few pieces, already establishing a name for herself. Her modesty shines through as she gives


credit to the volunteers and organizers who made the event as successful as it was. One director, Chelsea O’Connell, especially stood out as one of Wall’s mentors. O’Connell encouraged Wall to attend Lethbridge College and was part of the reason why Wall became involved in Saskatchewan Fashion Week. She knows next year Saskatchewan Fashion Week will be even more of a success.


Continued on Page 21


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