California's Next Generation: Brooks College
Designer Cornell Collins, an alumnus of Brooks College in Long Beach, Calif., was a special guest at the school’s March 30 graduation celebration featuring the original designs of this year’s graduates at the Long Beach Convention Center.
The theme of the evening was “A United State Of Fashion,” aimed at unifying the widest variety of fashion segments, including bridal, day, evening, sportswear, careerwear and avant-garde designs for both men and women. The fashion show presented the designs of more than 70 graduating students, awards and a summary overview of Collins’ career after graduating from Brooks.
Students receiving awards in the different apparel categories included the following: Kadijo Qaal, for women’s sportswear; Jade Holmes, for men’s sportswear; Sylvano Guiseppe, for women’s careerwear; Stephanie Taylor, for day dresses; Jeanetta Findleton, for eveningwear; Marci Fosse, for avant-garde; and Nora Rico, for bridal. Other awards presented were the Golden Thimble Award for best sewing, given to Jana Booth; Best Draping, awarded to Setareh Panbehchi; and Best of Show, awarded to Mark Pagaduan.
Collins, a native of North Carolina, graduated from Brooks in 1996, working a variety of jobs before launching his own collection in 2000. —Darryl James
