Nicole MurphyFor 18+ years, Jefferson Fashion Design junior level students have partnered with the American Heart Association to create red dresses in support of the organization’s Go Red for Women campaign. This year, the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Heart Association featured dresses from 18 junior students at their annual Rock the Red Dress luncheon hosted at the Crystal Tea Room in Center City Philadelphia. The event was not only great exposure and networking for students, but also a wonderful opportunity to educate these young people on the importance of the American Heart Association’s mission.
In America, heart disease is the #1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year (Go Red for Women). For BIPOC women, those with pre-existing conditions, and other genetic factors, the risks can be even greater. When students first hear these statistics, the message resonates through individuals in their personal lives affected by the disease. Thinking of those statistics in terms of moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, friends, and other women in their lives, students are inspired to create something that is not only visually beautiful, but also honors these strong and impactful women.
Keeping in mind the American Heart Association’s mission, students research cardiovascular disease in women while also crafting a concept for their dress designs. The concepts do not need to directly relate to heart health, however many students take inspiration from inspirational women, whether historical or someone in their personal lives. Students use fabric in shades of red or red prints to create their silhouettes, and utilize fabric draping techniques to achieve their desired silhouettes. The resulting looks exude elegance and ingenuity. Scroll through the gallery below for a look at all of this year’s Red Dress designs.
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