Meet Wendy Schindler
Wendy graduate from MBSS and continued onto Kwantlen Polytechnic Unversity(KPU). In April 2019 she completed her 4 year KPU Fashion Design Degree. While at KPU Wendy started her company Devotion Designs. Her company focuses on creating luxury one of a kind haute couture pieces. Her Fall 2018 collection was featured in Vancouver Fashion Week. Her graduation collection focused on plus size haute couture pieces.
In the fall 2019 Wendy was invited to Fashion Week London where she debuted her autumn/winter 2019 collection. She will then be showcased at Fashion Week Paris and Vancouver Fashion Week.
Her debut at Paris Fashion Week made Forbes Magazine!
Meet Julian Bontorin
Julian is a MBSS Alumni and recent Kwantlen Polytechnie Grad. Who's line JB Gear is hot on the hip hop scene in Vancouver.
Meet Alex Wyse
Why did you take sewing in high school?
I grew up sewing a little bit as a hobby and taking classes at quilt shops but most of my interest in fashion came from styling my own outfits, so when I realized I could start making my own clothes I was super excited. After taking Sewing 10, I was hooked and adjusted my time table to get in the sewing room as much as possible. My skills grew quickly in high school and I found out I could be further educated to eventually turn these skills into a career.
What are you doing now?
I’m currently starting my 2nd year of Fashion Design & Technology at Wilson School of Design in Vancouver, working towards a Bachelor of Design. I’m also sewing for a local small business, interning for an activewear company and building my portfolio.
What would you like to do in future?
My plans change often so I try to be open to everything. Currently I’m eyeing up positions in Vancouver designing for a technical apparel company, but don’t hold me to that I’ll change my mind.
Advice to MBSS student
The best advice for a MBSS student who might want to follow the same path as me…
-Get in the sewing room as much as you can, even if sewing isn’t your ‘thing’ its an integral part of the fashion industry and a necessary skill to have
-Ask questions to teachers, local designers, store clerks… everyone has an interesting industry perspective & its neat to see what’s out there
-Use free time wisely, the extra time I spent working on my drafting/ sewing skills has set me ahead in university
-Find ways to be involved. Attend events, work a retail job, volunteer
Meet Avery Armstrong
Meet Nhi (Jen) Dao
Actually, I came to Boucherie specifically for the sewing program and I’m really thankful I did. The biggest thing I was nervous about going into a fashion course is being restricted with my creativity, but Mrs. G has really been understanding and allows you to manipulate the project in ways that you want to so that you’ll actually wear the garment. At the senior sewing level, the course really pushes you to be independent which is good if you want to pursue fashion at a university level. I'm thankful for that. I think that if I never took this course I would not be aware of how damaging the fashion industry is for the earth. I'm really aware of the brands that I shop at now and how much clothing I’m buying at once which really helps with money!!! The best part about this program has to be the Vancouver fashion field trip to Kwantlen. Getting to see how the labs look and the fashion show is really inspiring. The feeling of seeing handmade garments on the runway is indescribable, you just gotta witness it for yourself!!
Meet Elle Good
Why Fashion?
Fashion has become a part of our identity that enables us to express our culture, individualism, and creativity. Prior to the Fashion Design and Sewing 10 course at Mount Boucherie Secondary, I enjoyed fine arts. However, mixed media limited my self-expression to paper and canvas. As another form of art, I chose Fashion and Sewing as an elective. Creating interesting products using my imagination and design became a passion of mine through this course.
Despite my parents instilling in my siblings and myself the importance of education and diligently working towards achieving our goals, they encouraged me to lean toward what is considered a family supporting profession. Society views fashion as not being a “career” and not having a meaningful impact on the world, which is ignorant and motivates me to prove the opposite. Fashion holds a major influence on everyone as it is a form of self-expression and personal identification. Clothing is meant to reflect the diversity of the world.
Haute couture is the creation of exclusive high-end fashion that is constructed with precision. Through one of a kind garments, I hope to generate an impact and demonstrate the importance of fashion as more than just a career. In a society where people strive to fit in, haute couture fashion can encourage people to be their own individual and demonstrate the possibilities fashion holds. I desire to create innovative designs that force society to see fashion in a new light.
Attending the Kwantlen Polytechnic University fashion show persuaded me to further pursue this career as it was a major inspiration. The possible outcomes of the Fashion Design and Technology program at Kwantlen demonstrated the result of perseverance, ambition, and creative ability. Ultimately, I see myself designing my own clothing line and creating a business.