The fashion show Southern Sojourn that occurred Friday, April 27th was a great way to start the weekend and an even better way to get SCAD students, alumni, and parents to get excited about SCAD Fashion Weekend. The show featured two of SCAD’s fashion students and alumnus: Troy Allen, Keller Corbett, and Theo Gough respectively. All designers spared no expense in making sure their collections had that “wow” factor. When asking Keller and Troy about their collections, they were both similar in that they wanted their clothes to reflect their lifestyles.
Keller expressed, “The collection is supposed to be reflective of my personal experiences in day to day life. My collection is functional and practical. My biggest inspiration is how my dad dresses; he’s got a way of dressing that compliments his life.” His six-piece collection featured hues of navy, white, and a pop of highlighter yellow and was the epitome of functionality and practicality while remaining masculine with a good cross of a typical and modern gentleman’s suit. Theo Gough went for a more masculine and athletic vibe with twelve looks imbuing futuristic streetwear. Some of his garments featured turtlenecks that zipped all the way to the mouth, pairs of tailored trousers, and a well-made batwing cape. The minor details of each look added to the overall presentation as of the clothes adorned with lash tabs, chest rigs, and reinforced knee pads.
Besides the venue’s industrial atmosphere with the exposed pipe and brick, the music that each designer chose, the pile of televisions in the middle of the venue that showed the models walking, and the buzzing energy that was apparent all night, the juxtaposition of Keller and Troy’s aesthetics and styles really made the night memorable and enjoyable for the audience.
Troy’s collection was classic Troy, which stuck to pastel colors, and was the definition of soft, feminine, and glam with a subtle, but notable edge. In terms of motivating factors, Troy articulated “For the show, I really wanted to look back at how growing up in Savannah shaped me. I denied my Southern roots for so long, but growing up openly gay from a young age and being celebrated was quite beautiful. It was a love story to my favorite city.”
Troy definitely pulled out all the embellishments when making his garments. His tasteful use of sequins and fringe was reminiscent of life in the South while using lightweight fabrics and simple silhouettes such as silk gowns and sheer tops with plunging necklines. Another notable touch of Southern life– the use of cowboy boots on some of his models. It was the simple things from each designer that really made their clothes true to who they are.
The Manor had the opportunity to interview some of the models from each designer, as well as get feedback from some of the audience members. Valentin Haack, a model for the showcase, said, “[The show] It was very well done. Very organized and we had enough time to practice. The clothes are [also] very comfortable to wear.” Kosta Sevic, one of Theo’s models, expressed, “I’ve walked in shows before. It was fun because of the different atmosphere: the cars, the choreography. I’ve known Theo for 3 years and I’ve always done shoots for him. His stuff I’ll wear genuinely.”
Among the many videographers throughout the night, The Manor had time to talk to William Harris who directed Keller and Theo’s slideshow of their collection. William noted, “I thought the show was great and I have a personal connection with the designers since I filmed their stuff. I saw the process from beginning to end and I thought it was impactful.”
Twins Sarah and Nelle Iocovozzi are favorites among SCAD designers and photographers and modeled Troy’s clothes in the fashion show. Sarah mentioned, “Every time I work with Troy, he always has new ideas. This was the longest runway and it was so cool. He planned it so well in such a short amount of time.” Nelle focused more on how the clothes made her feel in saying, “I love how sleek the clothes are and I feel really confident; anything he designs I feel confident. He really helped us start our modeling careers.”
The body of work that students like Troy, Keller, and Theo accumulate and create during the duration of their studies is beyond amazing and should make future and current fashion students excited for the numerous opportunities that stem from events like this.
Editor’s Note: This article has been edited to accurately reflect that Troy, Theo, and Keller’s collections were created individually to showcase each of their creative abilities as designers.
Written by Morgan Daniel
Cover Photo by John Hillin