Madison Reporter

Join a celebration of fashion, textile design, and architecture this month through a series of programs. These events highlight the connection between these creative disciplines with a textile lecture, upcycling projects, a design competition, and a fashion show inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The "Virtual Wright Design Series" kicks off on April 1, with a lecture by Design Historian and Author Leigh Wishner. "Learn more about Dorothy Liebes, Modern Fashion’s Starchitect," says Wishner. Dorothy Liebes, known as the "Mother of Modern Weaving," collaborated with prominent architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright. Her innovative fabric designs, for which she became famous, are termed the "Liebes Look." This session is free and hosted on Zoom.

For hands-on creativity, the "T-shirt Transformation" event on April 6 invites participants of all ages to upcycle old tees into various functional and wearable items. The program offers materials, although participants can bring their own shirts. It is free and open to the public.

On April 25, "Garbage to Glam Design Night" challenges teams to make high-fashion clothing from discarded materials. Participants will design couture creations in two hours, using only recycled materials provided. The finished creations will then compete for prizes on the runway. The event costs $30 per team or $15 per individual.

The month concludes with "The Wright Look" Fashion Show on April 27, a collaboration involving The Vault UW-Madison, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and Monona Terrace. "Experience The Wright Look," a show merging fashion and architecture with student-created designs, modeled on a runway with live music. Registration for this event is free.

These programs are an initiative called "Styling it Wright," presented in partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the Textile Arts Center, and The Vault. For details and registration, visit Monona Terrace’s community events webpage.