California's Next Generation: California Design College
California Design College’s (CDC) 11th Annual Graduation Fashion Show Gala got off to a grand start on June 6 at Los Angeles’ Biltmore Hotel, where celebrity models including Loni Anderson, Mathew St. Patrick, Peter Paige, Florence Henderson and Tippi Hedren strutted their stuff on the runway in CDC student–designed ensembles.
Comedian Jo Anne Worley served as the event’s emcee and actress Esther Williams was the evening’s honoree.
For some of the graduates it was the moment of a lifetime to see their designs on the runway for the first time. And the moment was equally gratifying for CDC’s chief executive officer, Sabrina Kay.
“It’s been extremely exciting to see the students’ creations after working on their projects during the year and being able to work with celebrities for fittings,” said Kay, who founded the school 11 years ago in Los Angeles’ mid-Wilshire district.
The event benefited two charities, Actor’s Fund and Mannequins of Assistance League of Southern California. Because the show didn’t charge for seating, CDC donated a generous amount to those charities, said Kay.—Claudia Figueroa
