2021 Columbus Monthly Spring Fashion
“Athflow” style, sustainability and diversity are important this year.
Jillian Span Hofbauer
This spring, local fashion enthusiasts remind us to seize the day when it comes to freshening our looks. The season of renewal calls for an entire refresh in 2021.
“In a lot of ways, I think we’re looking for a pick-me-up,” says Columbus College of Art & Design fashion department chair Suzanne Cotton on finding a balance between comfort and style this spring.
While trends remain casual as social distancing protocols continue and vaccinations become widely available, warmer weather coupled with a desire for change may be just the spark we need to reinvigorate our wardrobes.
Last year, the show was sidelined because of COVID-19.
This year, it s back in two forms: On May 14, audience members can either stream the show, which is presented by L Brands Foundation, from home or attend a live show at Easton Community Drive-In with emcee Amber Knicole, lead singer of neo-funk group MojoFlo.
“We wanted to do something that we knew we could do successfully at this point in time,” said Suzanne Cotton, 54, the chairwoman of CCAD s Fashion Design program and a member of the faculty since 2007.
18 students taking part in the exhibit
She has been working with the 18 students who will be exhibiting in the show for a semester in a senior thesis class where they have been putting together collections of work.
Lalese Stamps: People were wanting to support Black-owned businesses
2020 was a year of growth for the small business owner.
Lalese Stamps, Ceramicist
The founder of Lolly Lolly Ceramics made a difficult choice in 2020. As her side hustle took off after a surge in demand for products from Black-owned businesses, the 2017 Columbus College of Art & Design graduate decided to abandon her full-time job as a graphic designer to concentrate on her budding business.
On growth amid the protests: “That’s exactly when my business literally went from zero to 100, and I think the reason for it is because people were wanting to support Black-owned businesses.” She acknowledges mixed feelings about this initial surge, when she was picking up 10,000 Instagram followers a day. “I remember just thinking, ‘Wow, I don’t even care about ceramics right now.’ I’m literally out here in the streets every day. I’m dirty. I’m tired. I’m still working full time. It definite
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Can Columbus Suburban Schools Become More Inclusive?
Central Ohio suburban districts some diverse, some not so much are having some uncomfortable discussions about racial inequities.
Columbus Monthly
When Sophia Baker was in middle school, she was stopped by a police officer while riding her bike on the Bexley street where she lives. She was headed to an after-school sports practice. The officer, she recalls, said her bike “fit the description” of a stolen bicycle. Or maybe
she “fit the description.” Baker was young and flustered by the stop, and doesn’t quite remember what the officer told her. He eventually let her go on her way, and even after confirming with her white teammates that police didn’t pull over any of them on their bikes that day, she put the incident out of her mind. So much so that she didn’t tell her parents, although her father, Jonathan Baker, was a founder of the Bexley Minorit
MarionMade!
Each week, this series shares MarionMade! Stories of our many wonderful people, places, products and programs in the greater Marion community. To read more stories of Marion’s great people, places, products, and programs, or to share some of your own stories, visit us at marionmade.org or on social media.
Alysse Gafkjen is enjoying an amazing career in professional photography with a focus on portraits and music photography. Her work is featured on album covers, press photos, television and billboards, for example. This River Valley graduate is a shining an example of MarionMade! and the epitome of the creative, entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in the Marion area.