Baylor Student is a Finalist in International Fashion Competition

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A Baylor student is a finalist in an international fashion design competition to be held in San Diego, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 18, to Monday, Sept. 20.

Houston senior Lizvette Damman, a fashion design major, is one of five finalists competing in the Design Your Future Competition presented by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Gap.

The finalists will compete for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 at HACU's 24th Annual Conference.

Competitors had to be fashion design students at HACU-member institutions and were asked to design an original suit appropriate to wear for a job interview and answer two essay questions. The finalists selected from the entries will model their design at a fashion show during the conference.

Damman, who went through 10 to 15 ideas before submitting her sketch, was surprised her suit was chosen.

"I was very shocked, actually, because I just I feel like I barely mastered illustration last semester, and I've been practicing sketching ever since, but very rarely," Damman said.

Her suit, a tailored gray and ivory skirt and jacket over a burnt orange blouse, is a culmination of ideas that seemed to excite her friends, family and mentors.

"It's a transition suit you can wear from summer to fall," Damman said. "The burnt orange color just takes it more into fall."

Damman's interest in fashion design arose during her childhood, when she would doodle clothes in elementary school. Pursuing fashion has been her dream ever since. Modeling her design at the competition, however, will be a little scary.

"I don't like to be stared at by a lot of people," Damman said. "I prefer my clothing to be the center of attention, not myself, so I'm a little nervous about that."

The competition's selection committee includes a representative from Gap, a fashion design education expert and a fashion magazine representative. This is the third year HACU has partnered with Gap for the competition.

Besides having the opportunity to win a scholarship and walk the runway, the finalists' accomplishments will be featured in an article in a Hispanic publication with photos from the final competition.

HACU was established in 1986 and represents nearly 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education in the United States, Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Baylor is an associate member institution.

by Katy McDowall, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805